System, apparatus, and method for correcting vision using an electro-active lens

ABSTRACT

An electro-active spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens includes a first lens optic. The disclosed lens also includes a first electro-active zone positioned in a cooperative relationship with the first lens optic. In certain embodiments, the electro-active lens includes a range finder positioned in a cooperative relationship with the electro-active lens.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/602,013, filed Jun. 23, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,799 whichclaims priority to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Applications,all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety:

Ser. No. 60/142,053, titled “Electro-Active Spectacles”, filed Jul. 2,1999;

Ser. No. 60/143,626, titled “Electro-Active Spectacles”, filed Jul. 14,1999;

Ser. No. 60/147,813, titled “Electro-Active Refraction, Dispensing, &Eyewear”, filed Aug. 10, 1999;

Ser. No. 60/150,545, titled “Advanced Electro-Active Spectacles”, filedAug. 25, 1999;

Ser. No. 60/150,564, titled “Electro-Active Refraction, Dispensing, &Eyewear”, filed Aug. 25, 1999; and

Ser. No. 60/161,363, titled “Comprehensive Electro-Active Refraction,Dispensing, & Eyewear” filed Oct. 26, 1999.

This invention relates to the following which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety:

-   -   “System, Apparatus and Method for Correcting Vision Using an        Electro-Active Lens” U.S. application Ser. No. 10/627,828 filed        concurrently herewith;    -   “System, Apparatus, and Method for Correcting Vision Using        Electro-Active Spectacles”, U.S. application Ser. No.        09/602,012, filed Jun. 23, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,203;    -   “Method for Refracting and Dispensing Electro-Active        Spectacles”, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/602,014, filed Jun.        23, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,394; and    -   “System, Apparatus, and Method for Reducing Birefringence”, U.S.        application Ser. No. 09/603,736, filed Jun. 23, 2000, now U.S.        Pat. No. 6,491,391.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of vision correction, and,more particularly, to a system, apparatus, and method for correctingvision using an electro-active lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood through the followingdetailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-activephoropter/refractor system 100;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of another electro-activephoropter/refractor system 200;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a conventional dispensing practice sequence300;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of dispensing method 400;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of electro-active eyewear500;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of prescription method 600;

FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of a hybrid electro-activespectacle lens 700;

FIG. 8 is a section view of an embodiment of hybrid electro-activespectacle lens 700 taken along section line A—A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens 900,taken along section line Z—Z of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lenssystem 1000;

FIG. 11 is a section view of an embodiment of a diffractiveelectro-active lens 1100 taken along section line Z—Z of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a front view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens 1200;

FIG. 13 is a section view of an embodiment of the electro-active lens1200 of FIG. 12 taken along section line Q—Q;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tracking system1400;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lenssystem 1500;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lenssystem 1600;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens1700;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens1800;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-activelayer 1900;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens2000;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an embodiment of electro-active eyewear2100;

FIG. 22 is a front view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens 2200;

FIG. 23 is a front view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens 2300;

FIG. 24 is a front view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens 2400;

FIG. 25 is a section view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens2500 taken along section line Z—Z of FIG. 5;

FIG. 26 is a section view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens2600 taken along section line Z—Z of FIG. 5;

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of dispensing method 2700;and

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens2800.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In 1998, there were approximately 92 million eye examinations performedin the United States alone. The vast majority of these examinationsinvolved a thorough check for eye pathology both internal and external,analysis of muscle balance and binocularity, measurement of the corneaand, in many cases, the pupil, and finally a refractive examination,which was both objective and subjective.

Refractive examinations are performed to understand/diagnose themagnitude and type of the refractive error of one's eye. The types ofrefractive error that are currently able to be diagnosed & measured, aremyopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Current refractors(phoropters) attempt to correct one's vision to 20/20 distance and nearand, in some cases, 20/15 distance vision can be achieved; however, thisis by far the exception.

It should be pointed out that the theoretical limit to which the retinaof one's eye can process and define vision is approximately 20/10. Thisis far better than the level of vision which is currently obtained byway of both today's refractors (phoropters) and conventional spectaclelenses. What is missing from these conventional devices is the abilityto detect, quantify and correct for non-conventional refractive error,such as aberrations, irregular astigmatism, or ocular layerirregularities. These aberrations, irregular astigmatism, and/or ocularlayer irregularities may be as a result of one's visual system or as aresult of aberrations caused by conventional eyeglasses, or acombination of both.

Therefore, it would be extremely beneficial to have a means fordetecting, quantifying, and correcting one's vision as close to 20/10 orbetter as possible. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to do this in avery efficient and user friendly manner.

The present invention utilizes a novel approach in detecting,quantifying and correcting one's vision. The approach involves severalinnovative embodiments utilizing an electro-active lens. Furthermore,the invention utilizes a novel approach towards the selection,dispensing, activating, and programming of electro-active eyewear.

For example, in one inventive embodiment, a novel electro-activephoropter/refractor is utilized. This electro-active phoropter/refractorutilizes far fewer lens components than today's phoropters and is afraction of the overall size and/or weight of today's phoropters. Infact, this exemplary inventive embodiment consists of only a pair ofelectro-active lenses housed in a frame mounting that provides, eitherthrough its own structural design and/or by way of a network ofconductive wires, electrical power needed to enable the electro-activelenses to function properly.

To assist with understanding certain embodiments of the invention,explanations of various terms are now provided. In some situations,these explanations are not necessarily intended to be limiting, but,should be read in light of the examples, descriptions, and claimsprovided herein.

An “electro-active zone” can include or be included in an electro-activestructure, layer, and/or region. An “electro-active region” can be aportion and/or the entirety of an electro-active layer. Anelectro-active region can be adjacent to another electro-active region.An electro-active region can be attached to another electro-activeregion, either directly, or indirectly with, for example, an insulatorbetween each electro-active region. An electro-active layer can beattached to another electro-active layer, either directly, or indirectlywith, for example, an insulator between each electro-active layer.“Attaching” can include bonding, depositing, adhering, and otherwell-known attachment methods. A “controller” can include or be includedin a processor, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, an IC, acomputer chip, and/or a chip. A “refractor” can include a controller. An“auto-refractor” can include a wave front analyzer. “Near distancerefractive error” can include presbyopia and any other refractive errorneeded to be corrected for one to see clearly at near distance.“Intermediate distance refractive error” can include the degree ofpresbyopia needed to be corrected an intermediate distance and any otherrefractive error needed to be corrected for one to see clearly atintermediate distance. “Far distance refractive error” can include anyrefractive error needed to be corrected for one to see clearly at fardistance. “Near distance” can be from about 6 inches to about 24 inches,and more preferably from about 14 inches to about 18 inches.“Intermediate distance” can be from about 24 inches to about 5 feet.“Far distance” can be any distance between about 5 feet and infinity,and more preferably, infinity. “Conventional refractive error” caninclude myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and/or presbyopia.“Non-conventional refractive error” can include irregular astigmatism,aberrations of the ocular system, and any other refractive error notincluded in conventional refractive error. “Optical refractive error”can include any aberrations associated with a lens optic.

In certain embodiments, a “spectacle” can include one lens. In otherembodiments, a “spectacle” can include more than one lens. A“multi-focal” lens can include bifocal, trifocal, quadrafocal, and/orprogressive addition lens. A “finished” lens blank can include a lensblank that has finished optical surface on both sides. A “semi-finished”lens blank can include a lens blank that has, on one side only, afinished optical surface, and on the other side, a non-opticallyfinished surface, the lens needing further modifications, such as, forexample, grinding and/or polishing, to make it into a useable lens.“Surfacing” can include grinding and/or polishing off excess material tofinish a non-finished surface of a semi-finished lens blank.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of electro-activephoropter/refractor system 100. Frames 110 contain electro-active lens120, which are connected via a network of conductive wires 130 to anelectro-active lens controller 140 and to an electrical power source150.

In certain embodiments, the temples (not shown in FIG. 1) of frames 110contain batteries or power sources such as, for example, a micro-fuelcell. In other inventive embodiments, the temple or temples of frame 110possess the needed electrical components so that a power cord is pluggeddirectly into an electrical outlet and/or the electro-active refractor'scontroller/programmer 160.

Still in other inventive embodiments, the electro-active lenses 120 aremounted in a housing assembly which is suspended so one could simplyposition one's face properly in order to look through the electro-activelenses while being refracted.

While the first inventive embodiment utilizes only a pair ofelectro-active lenses, in certain other inventive embodiments, multipleelectro-active lenses are used. Still in other inventive embodiments, acombination of conventional lenses and electro-active lenses areutilized.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of anelectro-active refractor system 200 that includes housing assembly 210that contains at least one electro-active lens 220 and severalconventional lenses, specifically, diffractive lens 230, prismatic lens240, astigmatic lens 250, and spherical lens 260. A network ofconductive wires 270 connects the electro-active lens 220 to a powersource 275 and to a controller 280, that provides a prescription display290.

In each inventive embodiment where multiple electro-active lenses and/ora combination of conventional and electro-active lenses are utilized,the lenses can be used to test one's vision in a random and/ornon-random one-at-a-time sequence. In other inventive embodiments, twoor more lenses are added together giving a total corrective power infront of each eye as needed.

The electro-active lenses, which are utilized in both the electro-activephoropter and the electro-active eyewear, are comprised of either ahybrid and/or non-hybrid construction. In a hybrid construction, aconventional lens optic is combined with an electro-active zone. In anon-hybrid construction, no conventional lens optic is used.

As discussed above, the invention differs from today's conventionaldispensing practice sequence 300, which is shown as a flow diagram inFIG. 3. As shown at steps 310 and 320, traditionally an eye examinationinvolving a conventional refractor is followed by obtaining one'sprescription and taking that prescription to a dispenser. Then, as shownat steps 330 and 340, at the dispenser one's frames and lens areselected. As shown at step 350 and 360, the lenses are fabricated,edged, and assembled into the frames. Finally, at step 370, the newprescription eyeglasses are dispensed and received.

As shown in the flow diagram of FIG. 4, in an exemplary embodiment ofone inventive dispensing method 400, at step 410 the electro-activeeyewear is selected by or for the wearer. At step 420, the frames arefitted to the wearer. With the wearer wearing the electro-activeeyewear, at step 430, the electronics are controlled by theelectro-active phoropter/refractor control system which in most cases isoperated by an eyecare professional and/or technician. However, incertain inventive embodiments, the patient or wearer can actuallyoperate the control system and thus, control the prescription of theirown electro-active lenses. In other inventive embodiments, both thepatient/wearer and the eyecare professional and/or technician work withthe controller together.

At step 440, the control system, whether operated by the eyecareprofessional, technician, and/or the patient/wearer, is utilized toselect both objectively or subjectively the best correcting prescriptionfor the patient/wearer. Upon selecting the proper prescription tocorrect the patient/wearer's vision to it's optimal correction, theeyecare professional or technician then programs the patient's/wearer'selectro-active eyewear.

In one inventive embodiment, the selected prescription is programmedinto an electro-active eyewear controller, and/or one or more controllercomponents, prior to the selected electro-active eyewear beingdisconnected from the electro-active phoropter/refractor's controller.In other inventive embodiments the prescription is programmed into theselected electro-active eyewear at a later time.

In either case the electro-active eyewear is selected, fitted,programmed, and dispensed at step 450 in a totally different sequencethan conventional eyeglasses are today. This sequence allows forimproved manufacturing, refracting and dispensing efficiencies.

Via this inventive method, the patient/wearer literally can select theireyewear, wear them while the testing of their vision is taking place,and then have them programmed for the correct prescription. In mostcases, but not all, this is done before the patient/wearer leaves theexamination chair, thus, ensuring the total fabrication and programmingaccuracy of the patient's final prescription, as well as the accuracy ofthe eye refraction itself. Finally, in this inventive embodiment thepatient can literally wear their electro-active eyeglasses when they getup out of the examination chair and proceed out of the eyecareprofessional's office.

It should be pointed out that other inventive embodiments allow for theelectro-active phoropter/refractor to simply display or print out thepatient or wearer's best corrected prescription which is then filled inmuch the same manner as in the past. Currently the process involvestaking a written prescription to a dispensing location whereelectro-active eyewear (frames and lenses) are sold and dispensed.

Still in other inventive embodiments the prescription is sentelectronically, for example, via the Internet, to a dispensing locationwhere electro-active eyewear (frames and lenses) are sold.

In the case where the prescription is not filled at the point where theeye refraction is performed, in certain inventive embodiments anelectro-active eyewear controller, and/or one or more controllercomponents, is either programmed and installed into the electro-activeeyewear, or directly programmed while installed in the electro-activeeyewear, following the refraction. In the case where nothing is added tothe electro-active eyewear, the electro-active eyewear controller,and/or one or more controller components, is an intricate built-in partof the electro-active eyewear and does not need to be added at a latertime.

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of another inventivedispensing method 2700. At step 2710, the vision of the patient isrefracted using any method. At step 2720, the prescription for thepatient is obtained. At step 2730, the electro-active eyewear isselected. At step 2740, the electro-active eyewear is programmed withthe wearer's prescription. At step 2750, the electro-active eyewear isdispensed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another inventive embodiment of theelectro-active eyewear 500. In this illustrative example, frames 510contain generic electro-active lenses 520 and 522 that are electricallycoupled by connecting wires 530 to electro-active eyewear controller 540and power source 550. Section line Z—Z divides generic electro-activelens 520.

Controller 540 acts as the “brains” of the electro-active eyewear 500,and can contain at least one processor component, at least one memorycomponent for storing instructions and/or data for a specificprescription, and at least one input/output component, such as a port.Controller 540 can perform computational tasks such as reading from andwriting into memory, calculating voltages to be applied to individualgrid elements based on desired refractive indices, and/or acting as alocal interface between the patient/user's eyewear and the associatedrefractor/phoropter equipment.

In one inventive embodiment, controller 540 is pre-programmed by theeyecare specialist or technician to meet the patient's convergence andaccommodative needs. In this embodiment, this pre-programming is done oncontroller 540 while controller 540 is outside the patient's eyewear,and controller 540 is then inserted into the eyewear after theexamination. In one inventive embodiment, controller 540 is a“read-only” type, supplying the voltage to grid elements to obtain thenecessary array of refractive indices to correct the vision for aspecific distance. As the patient's prescription changes, a newcontroller 540 must be programmed and inserted into the eyewear by thespecialist. This controller would be of a class of ASIC's, orapplication specific integrated circuits, and its memory and processingcommands permanently imprinted.

In another inventive embodiment, the electro-active eyewear controllermay be originally programmed by the eyecare specialist or technicianwhen first dispensed, and later the same controller, or a componentthereof, can be reprogrammed to provide a different correction, as thepatient's needs change. This electro-active eyewear controller may beextracted from the eyewear, placed in the refractor'scontroller/programmer (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and reprogrammed duringthe examination, or reprogrammed, in situ, by the refractor withoutremoval from the electro-active eyewear. The electro-active eyewearcontroller in this case could, for example, be of a class of FPGA's, orfield programmable gate array architecture. In this inventive embodimentthe electro-active eyewear controller may be permanently built into theeyewear and require only an interface link to the refractor which issuesthe reprogramming commands to the FPGA. Part of this link would includeexternal AC power to the electro-active eyewear controller provided byan AC adapter embedded in the refractor/phoropter or in itscontroller/programmer unit.

In another inventive embodiment, the electro-active eyewear acts as therefractor, and the external equipment operated by the eyecare specialistor technician consists of merely a digital and/or analog interface tothe electro-active eyewear's controller. Thus, the electro-activeeyewear controller can also serve as the controller for therefractor/phoropter. In this embodiment, the necessary processingelectronics are available to alter the array of grid voltages to theelectro-active eyewear and reprogram the electro-active eyewearcontroller with this data after the optimal correction for the user isempirically determined. In this case, the patient reviews the eye chartsthrough his/her own electro-active eyewear during the examination andmay be unaware that as he/she is selecting the best correctiveprescription, the controller in their electro-active eyewear issimultaneously being reprogrammed electronically.

Another innovative embodiment utilizes an electronic auto-refractor thatcan be used as a first step and/or in combination with theelectro-active refractors (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) such as by way ofexample, but not limited to Humphrey's Auto-refractor & Nikon'sAuto-refractor which have been developed or modified to provide feedback which is compatible and programmed for use with the invention'selectro-active lenses. This innovative embodiment is used to measureone's refractive error, while the patient or wearer is wearing his orher electro-active spectacles. This feedback is fed automatically ormanually into a controller and/or programmer, which then calibrates,programs or reprograms the controller of the user/wearer'selectro-active spectacles. In this innovative embodiment, one'selectro-active spectacles can be re-calibrated as needed withoutrequiring full eye examination or eye refraction.

In certain other inventive embodiments, one's vision correction iscorrected, by way of one's electro-active lenses, to 20/20. This isobtained in most cases by correcting one's conventional refractive error(myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and/or presbyopia). In certain otherinventive embodiments, non-conventional refractive error such asaberrations, irregular astigmatism, and/or ocular layer irregularitiesof the eye are measured and corrected, as well as conventionalrefractive error (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and/or presbyopia). Inthe inventive embodiments whereby aberrations, irregular astigmatism,and/or ocular layer irregularities of the eye are corrected in additionto conventional refractive error, one's vision can be corrected in manycases to better than 20/20, such as to 20/15, to better than 20/15, to20/10, and/or to better than 20/10.

This advantageous error correction is accomplished by utilizing theelectro-active lenses in the eyewear effectively as an adaptive optic.Adaptive optics have been demonstrated and in use for many years tocorrect for atmospheric distortion in ground-based astronomicaltelescopes, as well as for laser transmission through the atmosphere forcommunications and military applications. In these cases, segmented or“rubber” mirrors are usually employed to make small corrections to thewave front of the image or laser lightwave. These mirrors aremanipulated by mechanical actuators in most cases.

Adaptive optics, as applied to vision, is based on active probing of theocular system with a light beam, such as an eye-safe laser, and measuresthe wavefront distortion of either the retinal reflection or the imagecreated on the retina. This form of wavefront analysis assumes a planeor spherical probe wave and measures the distortion imparted on thiswavefront by the ocular system. By comparing the initial wavefront withthe distorted one, a skilled examiner can determine what abnormalitiesexist in the ocular system and prescribe an appropriate correctiveprescription. There are several competing designs for wavefrontanalyzers, however, the adaption of the electro-active lenses describedhere for use as either a transmissive or reflective spatial lightmodulator to perform such wavefront analysis is included within theinvention. Examples of wavefront analyzers are provided in U.S. Pat. No.5,777,719 (Williams) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,521 (Williams), each ofwhich is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, however, smallcorrections or adjustments are made to the electro-active lenses so thatan image lightwave is imparted by a grid array of electrically drivenpixels whose index of refraction can be altered, accelerating or slowingdown the light passing through them by the alterable index. In this way,the electro-active lens becomes an adaptive optic, which can compensatefor the inherent spatial imperfection in the optics of the eye itself inorder to obtain a nearly aberration-free image on the retina.

In certain inventive embodiments, because the electro-active lens isfully two-dimensional, fixed spatial aberrations caused by the eye'soptical system can be compensated for by incorporating the small indexof refraction corrections on top of the gross vision correctionprescription needs of the patient/user. In this way, vision can becorrected to a level of better than what could be achieved with commonconvergence and accommodation corrections, and, in many cases, couldresult in vision better than 20/20.

In order to achieve this better than 20/20 correction, the patient'socular aberrations can be measured by, for example, a modified autorefractor utilizing a wavefront sensor or analyzer designed specificallyfor eye aberration measurements. Once the ocular aberrations and othertypes of non-conventional refractive error have been determined in bothmagnitude and spatially, the controller in the eyewear can be programmedto incorporate the 2-D spatially-dependent index of refraction changesto compensate for these aberrations and other types of non-conventionalrefractive error in addition to the overall myopia, hyperopia,presbyopia, and/or astigmatism correction. Thus, embodiments of theelectro-active lens of the present invention can electro-activelycorrect for aberrations of the patient's ocular system or created by thelens optic.

Thus, for example, a certain power correction of −3.50 diopters may berequired in a certain electro-active divergent lens to correct awearer's myopia. In this case, an array of different voltages, V₁ . . .V_(N), is applied to the M elements in the grid array to generate anarray of different indices of refraction, N₁ . . . N_(M), which give theelectro-active lens a power of −3.50 diopters. However, certain elementsin the grid array may require up to plus or minus 0.50 units change intheir index N₁ . . . N_(M) to correct for ocular aberrations and/ornon-conventional refractive error. The small voltage deviationscorresponding to these changes is applied to the appropriate gridelement, in addition to the base myopia-correcting voltages.

In order to detect, quantify, and/or correct as much as possible fornon-conventional refractive error such as irregular astigmatism, ocularrefractive irregularities, such as for example, the tear layer on thefront of the cornea, the front, or back of the cornea, aqueousirregularities, the front or back of the lenticular lens, vitreousirregularities, or for other aberrations caused by the ocular refractivesystem itself, the electro-active refractor/phoropter is used accordingto an embodiment of the inventive prescription method 600 of FIG. 6.

At step 610, either a conventional refractor, an electro-activerefractor having both conventional and electro-active lenses, or anelectro-active refractor having only electro-active lenses, or anauto-refractor, is utilized to measure one's refractive error usingconventional lens powers such as minus power (for myopes), plus power(for hyperopes), cylindrical power and axis (for astigmatism) and prismpower when needed. Utilizing this approach, one will get what is knowntoday as the patient's BVA (best visual acuity) by way of conventionalcorrective refractive error. However, certain embodiments of theinvention allow for improving one's vision beyond what today'sconventional refractor/phoropters will achieve.

Therefore, step 610 provides for further refinement of one'sprescription in a non-conventional inventive way. In step 610, theprescription, which accomplishes this end point, is programmed into theelectro-active refractor. The patient is properly positioned to lookthrough the electro-active lenses having a multi-grid electro-activestructure into a modified and compatible autorefractor or a wavefrontanalyzer, which automatically measures precisely the refractive error.This refractive error measurement detects and quantifies as muchnon-conventional refractive errors as possible. This measurement istaken through a small, approximately 4.29 mm, targeted area of eachelectro-active lens, while automatically computing the necessaryprescription to achieve the best focus on the fovea along theline-of-sight while the patient is looking through the targeted area ofthe electro-active lens. Once this measurement is made thisnon-conventional correction is either stored in thecontroller/programmer memory for future use or it is then programmedinto the controller that controls the electro-active lenses. This, ofcourse, is repeated for both eyes.

At step 620, the patient or wearer now may at their option elect to usea control unit which will allow them to further refine the conventionalrefractive error correction, the non-conventional refractive errorcorrection, or a combination of both, and thus the final prescription,to their liking. Alternatively, or in addition, the eyecare professionalmay refine it, until in some cases no further refinement is performed.At this point, an improved BVA for the patient, better than anyavailable via conventional techniques, will be achieved.

At step 630, any further refined prescription is then programmed intothe controller, which controls the electro-active lenses' prescription.At step 640, the programmed electro-active spectacles are dispensed.

While the preceding steps 610 through 640 present an embodiment of oneinventive method, depending upon the eyecare professional's judgement orapproach, numerous different but similar approaches could be used todetect, quantify, and/or correct one's vision using solelyelectro-active refractors/phoropters or in combination with wavefrontanalyzers. Any method, no matter in what sequence, that utilizes anelectro-active refractor/phoropter to detect, quantify, and/or correctone's vision, whether in conjunction with a wavefront analyzer or not,is considered part of the invention. For example, in certain inventiveembodiments, steps 610 through 640 may be performed in either a modifiedway or even a different sequence. Furthermore, in embodiments of certainother inventive methods, the targeted area of the lens referred to instep 610 is within the range of about 3.0 millimeters in diameter toabout 8.0 millimeters in diameter. Still in other inventive embodiments,the targeted area can be anywhere from about 2.0 millimeters in diameterup to the area of the entire lens.

Although this discussion has thus far concentrated on refraction usingvarious forms of electro-active lenses alone or in combination withwavefront analyzers to perform the eye examination of the future, thereis another possibility that new emerging technology may allow simply forobjective measurements, thus potentially eliminating the need for apatient's communicated response or interaction. Many of the inventiveembodiments described and/or claimed herein are intended to work withany type of measuring system, whether objective, subjective, or acombination of both.

Turning now to the electro-active lens itself, as discussed above, anembodiment of the present invention concerns an electro-activerefractor/phoropter that has a novel electro-active lens, that caneither be of a hybrid or of a non-hybrid construction. By hybridconstruction it is meant a combination of a conventional single visionor a multifocal lens optic, with at least one electro-active zonelocated on the front surface, back surface, and/or in between the frontand back surfaces, the zone consisting of an electro-active materialhaving the necessary electro-active means to change focus electrically.In certain embodiments of the invention, the electro-active zone isspecifically placed either inside the lens or on the back concavesurface of the lens to protect it from scratches and other normal wear.In the embodiment where the electro-active zone is included as part ofthe front convex surface, in most cases a scratch resistant coating isapplied. The combination of the conventional single vision lens or aconventional multifocal lens and the electro-active zone gives the totallens power of the hybrid lens design. By non-hybrid it is meant a lenswhich is electro-active whereby mostly 100% of its refractive power isgenerated solely by its electro-active nature.

FIG. 7 is a front view, and FIG. 8 is a section view taken along lineA—A, of an embodiment of an exemplary hybrid electro-active spectaclelens 700. In this illustrative example, lens 700 includes a lens optic710. Attached to lens optic 710 is an electro-active layer 720, that canhave one or more electro-active regions that occupy all or a portion ofelectro-active layer 720. Also attached to lens optic 710 and at leastpartially surrounding electro-active layer 720 is framing layer 730.Lens optic 710 includes an astigmatic power correction region 740 havingan astigmatic axis A—A rotated, in this specific example only,approximately 45 degrees clockwise from horizontal. Coveringelectro-active layer 720 and framing layer 730 is an optional coverlayer 750.

As will be discussed further, electro-active layer 720 can include aliquid crystal and/or a polymer gel. Electro-active layer 720 can alsoinclude an alignment layer, a metallic layer, a conducting layer, and/oran insulating layer.

In an alternative embodiment, astigmatic correction region 740 iseliminated so that lens optic 710 corrects for sphere power only. Inanother alternative embodiment, lens optic 710 can correct for eitherfar distance, near distance, and/or both, and any sort of conventionalrefractive error, including spheric, cylindric, prismatic, and/oraspheric errors. Electro-active layer 720 can also correct for neardistance, and/or for non-conventional refractive error such asaberrations. In other embodiments, electro-active layer 720 can correctany sort of conventional or non-conventional refractive error and lensoptic 710 can correct for conventional refractive error.

It has been discovered that an electro-active lens having a hybridconstruction approach has certain distinct advantages over that of anon-hybrid lens. These advantages are lower electrical power needs,smaller battery size, longer battery life expectancy, less complexelectrical circuitry, fewer conductors, fewer insulators, lowermanufacturing costs, increased optical transparency, and increasedstructural integrity. However, it must be noted that non-hybridelectro-active lenses have their own set of advantages, includingreduced thickness and mass manufacturing.

It also has been discovered that both the non-hybrid, and in someembodiments, the full field hybrid and partial field hybrid approach,will allow for mass manufacturing of a very limited number of SKUs(Stock Keeping Units) when, for example, the electro-active structuraldesign utilized is that of a multi-grid electro-active structure. Inthis case, it would only be necessary when mass manufacturing to focusprimarily on a limited number of differentiated features such ascurvature and size for the wearer's anatomical compatibility.

To understand the significance of this improvement, one must understandthe number of traditional lens blanks needed to address mostprescriptions. About 95% of corrective prescriptions include a spherepower correction within a range of −6.00 diopters to +6.00 diopters, in0.25 diopter increments. Based on this range, there are about 49commonly prescribed sphere powers. Of those prescriptions that includean astigmatism correction, about 95% fall within the range of −4.00diopters to +4.00 diopters, in 0.25 diopter increments. Based on thisrange, there are about 33 commonly prescribed astigmatic (or cylinder)powers. Because astigmatism has an axis component, however, there areabout 360 degrees of astigmatic axis orientations, which are typicallyprescribed in 1 degree increments. Thus, there are 360 differentastigmatic axis prescriptions.

Moreover, many prescriptions include a bifocal component to correct forpresbyopia. Of those prescriptions that have a presbyopic correction,about 95% fall within the range of +1.00 to +3.00 diopters, in 0.25diopter increments, thereby resulting in about 9 commonly prescribedpresbyopic powers.

Because some embodiments of the invention can provide for spherical,cylindrical, axis, and presbyopic corrections, one non-hybridelectro-active lens can serve the 5,239,080 (=49×33×360×9) differentprescriptions. Thus, one non-hybrid electro-active lens can eliminatethe need to mass manufacture and/or stock numerous lens blank SKUs, andof possibly greater importance, can eliminate the need to grind andpolish each lens blank to a particular patient's prescription.

To account for the various lens curvatures that may be needed toaccommodate anatomical issues such as face shape, eyelash length, etc.,somewhat more than one non-hybrid electro-active lens SKU could be massmanufactured and/or stocked. Nevertheless, the number of SKU's could bereduced from millions to about five or less.

In the case of the hybrid electro-active lens, it has been discoveredthat by correcting for conventional refractive error with the lens opticand utilizing a mostly centered electro-active layer, it is possible toalso reduce the number of SKU's needed. Referring to FIG. 7, lens 700can be rotated as needed to place astigmatic axis A—A in the neededposition. Thus, the number of hybrid lens blanks needed can be reducedby a factor of 360. Moreover, the electro-active zone of the hybrid lenscan provide the presbyopic correction, thereby reducing by a factor of 9the number of lens blanks needed. Thus, a hybrid electro-active lensembodiment can reduce from more than 5 million to 1619 (=49×33) thenumber of lens blanks needed. Because it may be reasonably possible tomass manufacture and/or stock this number of hybrid lens blank SKUs, theneed for grinding and polishing may be eliminated.

Nevertheless, grinding and polishing semi-finished hybrid lens blanksinto finished lens blanks remains a possibility. FIG. 28 is aperspective view of an embodiment of a semi-finished lens blank 2800. Inthis embodiment, semi-finished lens blank 2800 has a lens optic 2810with a finished surface 2820, an unfinished surface 2830, and a partialfield electro-active layer 2840. In another embodiment, semi-finishedlens blank 2800 can have a full field electro-active layer. Moreover,the electro-active structure of semi-finished lens blank 2800 can bemulti-grid or single interconnect. Further, semi-finished lens blank2800 can have refractive and/or diffractive characteristics.

In either the hybrid or the non-hybrid embodiment of the electro-activelens, a significant number of needed correcting prescriptions can becreated and customized by the electro-active lens which can be adjustedand controlled by a controller that has been customized and/orprogrammed for the patient's specific prescription needs. Thus, themillions of prescriptions and numerous lens styles, single vision lensblanks, as well as the numerous multifocal semi-finished lens blanks maybe no longer needed. In fact, most lens and frame manufacturing anddistribution, as we know it may be revolutionized.

It should be noted that the invention includes both non-hybridelectro-active lenses, as well as full and partial field specific hybridelectro-active lenses that are either pre-manufactured electroniceyewear (frame and/or lenses) or customized electronic eyewear at thetime of delivery to the patient or customer. In the case of the eyewearbeing pre-fabricated and assembled, both the frames and the lenses arepre-made with the lenses already edged and put into the eyeglass frames.Also considered to be part of the invention is the programmable andre-programmable controller as well as the mass production of frames andlenses having the necessary electric components which can beprefabricated and sent to the eyecare professional's site or some othersite for either the installation of, for example, a programmedcontroller, and/or one or more controller components, for the patient'sprescription.

In certain cases the controller, and/or one or more controllercomponents, can be part of the pre-manufactured frame and electro-activelens assembly and then programmed at either the eyecare professional'ssite or some other site. The controller, and/or one or more controllercomponents, can be in the form, for example, of a chip or a thin filmand can be housed in the frame, on the frame, in the lens, or on thelens of the eyeglasses. The controller, and/or one or more controllercomponents, can be re-programmable or not re-programmable based upon thebusiness strategy to be implemented. In the case where the controller,and/or one or more controller components, is re-programmable, this willallow for the repeated updating of one's prescriptions as long as thepatient or customer is happy with his or her eyeglass frames as well asthe cosmetic appearance and functionality of the electro-active lenses.

In the case of the latter, the non-hybrid and hybrid electro-active lensembodiments just discussed, the lenses must be structurally sound enoughin order to protect the eye from injury from a foreign object. In theUnited States, most eyewear lenses must pass a FDA required impact test.In order to meet these requirements, it is important that a supportstructure is built into or on the lens. In the case of the hybrid type,this is accomplished, for example, utilizing either a prescription ornon-prescription single vision or multifocal lens optic as a structuralbase. For example, the structural base for the hybrid type can be madeout of polycarbonate. In the case of the non-hybrid lens, in certainembodiments, the electro-active material selected and thickness accountsfor this needed structure. In other embodiments, the non-prescriptioncarrier base or substrate onto which the electro-active material ispositioned accounts for this needed protection.

When utilizing electro-active zones in spectacle lenses in certainhybrid designs, it can be essential to maintain proper distancecorrection when a power interruption to the lenses occurs. In the caseof a battery or wiring failure, in some situations it could bedisastrous if the wearer was driving an automobile or piloting anairplane and their distance correction was lost. To prevent suchoccurrences, the inventive design of the electro-active spectacle lensescan provide for the distance correction to be maintained when theelectro-active zones is in the OFF position (the inactivated orunpowered state). In an embodiment of this invention, this can beaccomplished by providing the distance correction with a conventionalfixed focal length optic, whether it be a refractive or a diffractivehybrid type. Any additional add power, therefore, is provided by theelectro-active zone(s). Thus, a fail-safe electro-active system occurs,because the conventional lens optic will preserve the wearer's distancecorrection.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of anotherelectro-active lens 900 having a lens optic 910 that is index matched toan electro-active layer 920. In this illustrative example, the diverginglens optic 910, having an index of refraction, n₁, provides distancecorrection. Attached to lens optic 910 is the electro-active layer 920,which can have an unactivated state, and a number of activated states.When electro-active layer 920 is in its unactivated state, it has anindex of refraction n₂, which approximately matches the index ofrefraction, n₁, of lens optic 910. More accurately, when unactivated, n₂is within 0.05 refractive units of n₁. Surrounding electro-active layer920 is framing layer 930, which has an index of refraction, n₃, thatalso approximately matches the index of refraction, n₁, of lens optic910 within 0.05 refractive units of n₁.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anotherelectro-active lens system 1000. In this illustrative example,electro-active lens 1010 includes a lens optic 1040 and anelectro-active layer 1050. A rangefinder transmitter 1020 is positionedon electro-active layer 1050. Also, a rangefinder detector/receiver 1030is positioned on electro-active layer 1050. In an alternativeembodiment, either transmitter 1020 or receiver 1030 can be positionedin electro-active layer 1050. In other alternative embodiments, eithertransmitter 1020 or receiver 1030 can be positioned in or on lens optic1040. In other embodiments either transmitter 1020 or receive 1030 canbe positioned on outer covering layer 1060. Further, in otherembodiments, 1020 and 1030 can be positioned on any combination of thepreceding.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a diffractiveelectro-active lens 1100. In this illustrative example, lens optic 1110provides distance correction. Etched on one surface of lens optic 1110is diffractive pattern 1120, having an index of refraction, n₁. Attachedto lens optic 1110 and covering diffractive pattern 1120 iselectro-active layer 1130, which has an index of refraction, n₂, thatapproximates n₁, when electro-active layer 1130 is in its unactivatedstate. Also attached to lens optic 1110 is framing layer 1140, which isconstructed of material mostly identical to lens optic 1110, and whichat least partially surrounds electro-active layer 1120. A covering 1150is attached over electro-active layer 1130 and framing layer 1140. Theframing layer 1140 can also be an extension of lens optic 1110, in whichcan no actual layer is added, however, lens optic 1110 is fabricated soas to frame or circumscribe electro-active layer 1130.

FIG. 12 is a front view, and FIG. 13 a side view, of an exemplaryembodiment of an electro-active lens 1200 having a multi-focal optic1210 attached to an electro-active framing layer 1220. In thisillustrative example, multi-focal optic 1210 is of a progressiveaddition lens design. Moreover, in this illustrative example,multi-focal optic 1210 includes a first optical refraction focus zone1212 and a second progressive addition optical refraction focus zone1214. Attached to multi-focal optic 1210 is electro-active framing layer1220 having an electro-active region 1222 that is positioned over secondoptical refraction focus zone 1214. A cover layer 1230 is attached toelectro-active framing layer 1220. It should be noted that the framinglayer can be either electro-active or non-electro-active. When theframing layer is electro-active, insulating material is utilized toinsulate the activated region from the non-activated region.

In most inventive cases, but not all, in order to program theelectro-active eyewear to correct one's vision to its optimum, thus,correcting for non-conventional refractive error it is necessary totrack the line-of-sight of each eye by way of tracking the eye movementsof the patient or wearer.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a trackingsystem 1400. Frames 1410 contain electro-active lens 1420. Attached tothe backside of electro-active lens 1420 (that side closest to thewearer's eyes, also referred to as the proximal side), are a trackingsignal sources 1430, such as light emitting diodes. Also attached to thebackside of electro-active lens 1420 are tracking signal receivers 1440,such as light reflection sensors. Receivers 1440, and possibly sources1430, are connected to a controller (not shown) that includes in itsmemory instructions to enable tracking. Utilizing this approach it ispossible to locate very precisely the eye movements up, down, right,left and any variation thereof. This is needed as certain types, but notall, of non-conventional refractive error needs to be corrected andisolated within one's line-of-sight (for example, in the case of aspecific corneal irregularity or bump that moves as the eye moves).

In various alternative embodiments, sources 1430 and/or receivers 1440can be attached to the backside of frames 1410, embedded in the backsideof frames 1410, and/or embedded in the backside of lenses 1420.

An important portion of any spectacle lens, including the electro-activespectacle lens, is the portion used to produce the sharpest imagequality within the user's field of view. While a healthy person can seeapproximately 90 degrees to either side, the sharpest visual acuity islocated within a smaller field of view, corresponding to the portion ofthe retina with the best visual acuity. This region of the retina isknown as the fovea, and is approximately a circular region measuring0.40 mm in diameter on the retina. Additionally, the eye images thescene through the entire pupil diameter, so the pupil diameter will alsoaffect the size of the most critical portion of the spectacle lens. Theresulting critical region of the spectacle lens is simply the sum of thediameter of the eye's pupil diameter added to the projection of thefovea's field of view onto the spectacle lens.

The typical range for the eye's pupil diameter is from 3.0 to 5.5 mm,with a most common value of 4.0 mm. The average fovea diameter isapproximately 0.4 mm.

The typical range for the size of the fovea's projected dimension ontothe spectacle lens is affected by such parameters as the length of theeye, the distance from the eye to the spectacle lens, etc.

The tracking system of this specific inventive embodiment then locatesthe regions of the electro-active lens that correlate to the eyemovements relative to the fovial region of the patient's retina. This isimportant as the invention's software is programmed to always correctfor the non-conventional refractive error that is correctable as the eyemoves. Thus, it is necessary in most, but not all, inventive embodimentsthat correct for non-conventional refractive error to electro-activelyalter the area of the lens that the line-of-sight is passing through asthe eyes fixate their target or gaze. In other words, in this specificinventive embodiment the vast majority of the electro-active lenscorrects for conventional refractive error and as the eye moves thetargeted electro-active area focus moves as well by way of the trackingsystem and software to correct for the non-conventional refractive errortaking into account the angle in which the line-of-sight intersectsdifferent sections of the lens and factoring this into the finalprescription for that specific area.

In most, but not all, inventive embodiments, the tracking system andenabling software is utilized to correct one's vision to its maximum,while looking or gazing at distant objects. When looking at near pointsthe tracking system, if used, is utilized to both calculate the range ofnear point focus in order to correct for one's accommodative andconvergence near or intermediate range focusing needs. This of course isprogrammed into the electro-active eyewear controller, and/or one ormore controller components, as part of the patient or wearers'prescription. In still other inventive embodiments a range finder and/ortracking system is incorporated either into the lenses and/or frames.

It should be pointed out that in other inventive embodiments such asthose that correct for certain types of non-conventional refractiveerror, such as, for example, irregular astigmatism, in most but not allcases, the electro-active lenses do not need to track the patient orwearer's eye. In this case the overall electro-active lens is programmedto correct for this, as well as the other conventional refractive errorof the patient.

Also, since aberrations are directly related to the viewing distance, ithas been discovered that they can be corrected in relation to theviewing distance. That is, once the aberration or aberrations have beenmeasured, it is possible to correct for these aberrations in theelectro-active layer by way of segregating the electro-active regions soas to electro-actively correct for aberrations for specific distancessuch as distance vision, intermediate vision, and/or near vision. Forexample, the electro-active lens can be segregated into a far vision,intermediate vision, and near vision corrective zones, each the softwarecontrolling each zone causing the zone to correct for those aberrationsthat impact the corresponding viewing distance. Therefore in thisspecific inventive embodiment, where the electro-active layer issegregated for different distances whereby each segregated regioncorrects for specific aberrations of a specific distance, it is possibleto correct for non-refractive error without a tracking mechanism.

Finally, it should be pointed out that in another inventive embodiment,it is possible to accomplish the correction of the non-conventionalrefractive error, such as that caused by aberrations, without physicallyseparating the electro-active regions and without tracking. In thisembodiment, using the viewing distance as an input, the software adjuststhe focus of a given electro-active area to account for the correctionneeded for an aberration that would otherwise impact the vision at thegiven viewing distance.

Furthermore, it has been discovered that either a hybrid or non-hybridelectro-active lens can be designed to have a full field or a partialfield effect. By full field effect it is meant that the electro-activelayer or layers cover the vast majority of the lens region within aneyeglass frame. In the case of a full field, the entire electro-activearea can be adjusted to the desired power. Also, a full fieldelectro-active lens can be adjusted to provide a partial field. However,a partial field electro-active specific lens design can not be adjustedto a full field due to the circuitry needed to make it partial fieldspecific. In the case of a full field lens adjusted to become a partialfield lens, a partial section of the electro-active lens can be adjustedto the desired power.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anotherelectro-active lens system 1500. Frames 1510 contain electro-activelenses 1520, which have a partial field 1530.

For purposes of comparison, FIG. 16 is a perspective view of anexemplary embodiment of yet another electro-active lens system 1600. Inthis illustrative example, frames 1610 contain electro-active lenses1620, which have a full field 1630.

In certain inventive embodiments the multifocal electro-active optic ispre-manufactured and in some cases, due to the significantly reducednumber of SKU's required, even inventoried at the dispensing location asa finished multifocal electro-active lens blank. This inventiveembodiment allows for the dispensing site to simply fit and edge theinventoried multifocal electro-active lens blanks into the electronicenabling frames. While in most cases this invention could be of apartial field specific type electro-active lens, it should be understoodthis would work for full field electro-active lenses, as well.

In one hybrid embodiment of the invention, a conventional single visionlens optic being of aspheric design or non-aspheric design having atoric surface for correction of astigmatism and a spherical surface isutilized to provide the distance power needs. If astigmatic correctionis needed the appropriate power single vision lens optic would beselected and rotated to the proper astigmatic axis location. Once thisis done the single vision lens optic could be edged for the eye wireframe style and size. The electro-active layer could then be applied onthe single vision lens optic or the electro-active layer can be appliedprior to edging and the total lens unit can be edged later. It should bepointed out that, for edging whereby the electro-active layer is affixedto a lens optic, either a single vision or multifocal electro-activeoptic, prior to edging, an electro-active material such as a polymer gelmay be advantageous over a liquid crystal material.

The electro-active layer can be applied to compatible lens optics by wayof different technologies known in the art. Compatible lens optics areoptics whose curves and surfaces will accept the electro-active layerproperly from the stand point of bonding, aesthetics, and/or properfinal lens power. For example, adhesives can be utilized applying theadhesive directly to the lens optic and then laying down theelectro-active layer. Also, the electro-active layer can be manufacturedso it is attached to a release film in which case it can be removed andreattached adhesively to the lens optic. Also, it can be attached totwo-way film carrier of which the carrier itself is attached adhesivelyto the lens optic. Furthermore, it can be applied utilizing aSurfaceCasting technique in which case the electro-active layer iscreated in-situ.

In previously mentioned hybrid embodiment, FIG. 12, a combination of astatic and non-static approach is used to satisfy one's mid and nearpoint vision needs, a multifocal progressive lens 1210 having the properneeded distance correction and having, for example, approximately +1.00diopter of full near add power is utilized in lieu of the single visionlens optic. In utilizing this embodiment the electro-active layer 1220can be placed on either side of the multifocal progressive lens optic,as well as buried inside the lens optic. This electro-active layer isutilized to provide for additional add power.

When utilizing a lower add power in the lens optic than required by theoverall multifocal lens, the final add power is the total additive powerof the low multifocal add and the additional required near powergenerated by way of the electro-active layer. For example only; if amultifocal progressive addition lens optic had an add power of +1.00 andthe electro-active layer created a near power of +1.00 the total nearpower for the hybrid electro-active lens would be+2.00D. Utilizing thisapproach, it is possible to significantly reduce unwanted perceiveddistortions from multi-focal lenses, specifically progressive additionlenses.

In certain hybrid electro-active embodiments whereby a multifocalprogressive addition lens optic is utilized, the electro-active layer isutilized to subtract out unwanted astigmatism. This is accomplished byneutralizing or substantially reducing the unwanted astigmatism throughan electro-actively created neutralizing power compensation solely inthe areas of the lens where the unwanted astigmatism exists.

In certain inventive embodiments decentration of the partial field isneeded. When applying a decentered partial field electro-active layer itis necessary to align the electro-active layer in such a way toaccommodate the proper astigmatic axis location of the single visionlens optic so as to allow for correcting one's astigmatism, should itexist, as well as locating the electronic variable power field in theproper location for one's eyes. Also, it is necessary with the partialfield design to align the partial field location to allow for properdecentration placement with regards to the patient's pupillary needs. Ithas been further discovered that unlike conventional lenses where thestatic bifocal, multifocal or progressive regions are always placed toalways be below one's distance-viewing gaze, the use of anelectro-active lens allows for certain manufacturing freedom notavailable to conventional multifocal lenses. Therefore, some embodimentsof the invention, the electro-active region is located where one wouldtypically find the distance, intermediate, and near vision regions of aconventional non-electro-active multi-focal lens. For example, theelectro-active region can be placed above the 180 meridian of the lensoptic, thereby allowing the multifocal near vision zone to beoccasionally provided above the 180 meridian of the lens optic.Providing the near vision zone above the 180 meridian of the lens opticcan be especially useful for those spectacle wearers working at closedistances to an object directly in front or overhead of the wearer, suchas working with a computer monitor, or nailing picture frames overhead.

In the case of a non-hybrid electro-active lens or both the hybrid fullfield lens and for example, a 35 mm diameter hybrid partial field lens,the electro-active layer, as stated before, can be applied directly toeither the single vision lens optic, or pre-manufactured with a lensoptic creating electro-active finished multifocal lens blanks, or themultifocal progressive lens optic, prior to edging the lens for theshape of the frame's lens mounting. This allows for pre-assembly ofelectro-active lens blanks, as well as being able to inventory stockfinished, but not edged electro-active lens blanks, thus allowing forjust in time eyeglass fabrication at any channel of distribution,including the doctor or optician's offices. This will allow all opticaldispensaries to be able to offer fast service with minimal needs forexpensive fabrication equipment. This benefits manufacturers, retailers,and their patients, the consumers.

Considering the size of the partial field, it has been shown, forexample, in one inventive embodiment that the partial field specificregion could be a 35 mm diameter centered or decentered round design. Itshould be pointed out that the diameter size can vary depending upon theneeds. In certain inventive embodiments 22 mm, 28 mm, 30 mm, & 36 mmround diameters are utilized.

The size of the partial field can depend on the structure of theelectro-active layer and/or the electro-active field. At least two suchstructures are contemplated as within the scope of the presentinvention, namely, a single-interconnect electro-active structure and amulti-grid electro-active structure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens1700 having a single interconnect structure. Lens 1700 includes a lensoptic 1710 and an electro-active layer 1720. Within electro-active layer1720, an insulator 1730 separates an activated partial field 1740 from aframed non-activated field (or region) 1750. A single wire interconnect1760 connects the activated field to a power supply and/or controller.Note that in most, if not all, embodiments, a single-interconnectstructure has a single pair of electrical conductors coupling it to apower source.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens1800 having a multi-grid structure. Lens 1800 includes a lens optic 1810and an electro-active layer 1820. Within electro-active layer 1820, aninsulator 1830 separates an activated partial field 1840 from a framednon-activated field (or region) 1850. A plurality of wire interconnects1860 connect the activated field to a power supply and/or controller.

When utilizing the smaller diameters for the partial field, it has beendiscovered that the electro-active thickness differential from edge tocenter of the partial field specific region when utilizing a singleinterconnect electro-active structure can be minimized. This has a verypositive role in minimizing the electrical power needs, as well asnumber of electro-active layers required, especially for the singleinterconnect structure. This is not always the case for the partialfield specific region whereby it utilizes a multi-grid electro-activestructure. When utilizing a single interconnect electro-activestructure, in many inventive embodiments, but not all, multiple singleinterconnect electro-active structures are layered within or on the lensso as to allow for multiple electro-active layers creating for example,a total combined electro-active power of +2.50D. In this inventiveexample only, five +0.50D single interconnect layers could be placed oneon top of each other separated only in most cases, by insulating layers.In this way, the proper electrical power can create the necessaryrefractive index change for each layer by way of minimizing theelectrical needs of one thick single interconnect layer which in somecases would be impractical to energize properly.

It should be further pointed out in the invention, certain embodimentshaving multiple single interconnect electro-active layers can beenergized in a preprogrammed sequence to allow one to have the abilityto focus over a range of distances. For example, two +0.50D singleinterconnect electro-active layers could be energized, creating a +1.00intermediate focus to allow for a +2.00D presbyope to see at finger tipdistance and then two additional +0.50D single interconnectelectro-active layers could be energized to give the +2.00D presbyopethe ability to read as close as 16 inches. It should be understood thatthe exact number of electro-active layers, as well as the power of eachlayer, can vary depending upon the optical design, as well as the totalpower needed to cover a specific range of near and intermediate visiondistances for a specific presbyope.

Furthermore, in certain other inventive embodiments, a combination ofeither one or more single interconnect electro-active layers are presentin the lens in combination with a multi-grid electro-active structurallayer. Once again, this gives one the ability of focusing for a range ofintermediate and near distances assuming the proper programming.Finally, in other inventive embodiments, only a multi-gridelectro-active structure is utilized either in a hybrid or non-hybridlens. Either way, the multi-grid electro-active structure in combinationwith a properly programmed electro-active eyewear controller, and/or oneor more controller components, would allow for the ability to focus overa broad range of intermediate and near distances.

Also, semi-finished electro-active lens blanks that would allow forsurfacing are also within the scope of the invention. In this case,either a decentered, centered, partial field electro-active layerincorporated with the blank, or a full field electro-active layer isincorporated with the blank and then surfaced to the correctprescription needed.

In certain embodiments the variable power electro-active field islocated over the entire lens and adjusts as a constant spherical powerchange over the entire surface of the lens to accommodate one's workingnear vision focusing needs. In other embodiments the variable powerfield adjusts over the entire lens as a constant spherical power changewhile at the same time creating an aspherical peripheral power effect inorder to reduce distortion and aberrations. In some of the embodimentsmentioned above, the distance power is corrected by way of either thesingle vision, multifocal finished lens blanks, or the multifocalprogressive lens optic. The electro-active optical layer corrects mainlyfor the working distance focusing needs. It should be noted this is notalways the case. It is possible, in some cases, to utilize either asingle vision, multifocal finished lens optic, or multifocal progressivelens optic for distance spherical power only and correct near visionworking power and astigmatism through the electro-active layer orutilize either the single vision or multifocal lens optic to correctastigmatism only and correct the sphere power and near vision workingpower through the electro-active layer. Also, it is possible to utilizea plano, single vision, multifocal finished lens optic, or progressivemultifocal lens optic and correct the distance sphere and astigmatismneeds by way of the electro-active layer.

It should be pointed out that with the invention, the power correctionneeded, whether prismatic, spherical or aspheric power as well as totaldistance power needs, mid range power needs and near point power needs,can be accomplished by way of any number of additive power components.These include the utilization of a single vision or finished multifocallens optic providing all the distance spherical power needs, some of thedistance spherical power needs, all of the astigmatic power needs, someof the astigmatic power needs, all of the prismatic power needs, some ofthe prismatic power needs, or any combination of the above when combinedwith the electro-active layer, will provide for one's total focusingneeds.

It has been discovered that the electro-active layer allows for theutilization of adaptive optic correction-like techniques to maximizeone's vision through his or her electro-active lenses either prior orafter final fabrication. This can be accomplished by way of allowing thepatient or intended wearer to look through the electro-active lens orlenses and adjusting them manually, or by way of a special designedautomatic refractor that almost instantly will measure conventionaland/or non-conventional refractive error and will correct any remainingrefractive error be it spherical, astigmatic, aberrations, etc. Thistechnique will allow for the wearer to achieve 20/10 or better vision inmany cases.

Furthermore, it should be pointed out that in certain embodiments aFresnell power lens layer is utilized along with the single vision ormultifocal or multifocal lens blank or optic as well as theelectro-active layer. For example: the Fresnell layer is utilized toprovide spherical power and thereby reduce lens thickness, the singlevision lens optic to correct astigmatism, and the electro-active layerto correct for mid and near distance focusing needs.

As discussed above, in another embodiment a diffractive optic isutilized along with the single vision lens optic and the electro-activelayer. In this approach the diffractive optic, which provides foradditional focusing correction, further reduces the need for theelectric power, circuitry, and thickness of the electro-active layer.Once again, the combination of any two or more of the following can beutilized in an additive manner to provide the total additive powerneeded for one's spectacle correction power needs. These being aFresnell layer, conventional or non-conventional single vision ormultifocal lens optic, diffractive optic layer, and electro-active layeror layers. Furthermore it is possible through an etching process toimpart a shape and or effect of a diffractive or Fresnel layer into theelectro-active material so as to create a non-hybrid or hybridelectro-active optic having a diffractive or Fresnel component. Also, itis possible using the electro-active lens to create not onlyconventional lens power, but also prismatic power.

It has also been discovered that utilizing either an approximate 22 mmor a 35 mm diameter round centered hybrid partial field specificelectro-active lens design or an adjustable decentered hybridelectro-active partial field specific design being approximately 30 mmin diameter it is possible to minimize the electrical power circuitryneeds, battery life, and battery size, reducing manufacturing costs andimproving optical transparency of the final electro-active spectaclelens.

In one inventive embodiment, the decentered partial field specificelectro-active lens is located so that the optical center of this fieldis located approximately 5 mm below the optical center of the singlevision lens, while at the same time having the near working distanceelectro-active partial field being decentered nasally or temporally tosatisfy the patient's correct near to intermediate working rangepupillary distance. It should be noted that such a design approach isnot limited to a circular design but could be virtually any shape thatallowed the proper electro-active visual field area needed for one'svision needs. For example, the design could be oval, rectangular, squareshaped, octagonal, partially curved, etc. What is important is theproper placement of the viewing area for either the hybrid partial fieldspecific designs or hybrid full field designs that have the ability toachieve partial fields as well as non-hybrid full field designs thatalso have the ability to achieve partial fields.

Further it has been discovered that the electro-active layer in manycases (but not all) is utilized having an uneven thickness. That is, themetallic and conductive surrounding layers are not parallel and the gelpolymer thickness varies to create a convergent or divergent lens shape.It is possible to employ such a non-uniform thickness electro-activelayer in a non-hybrid embodiment or in a hybrid mode with a singlevision or multifocal lens optic. This presents a wide variety ofadjustable lens powers through various combinations of these fixed andelectrically adjustable lenses. In some inventive embodiments, thesingle interconnect electro-active layer utilizes non-parallel sidescreating a non-uniform thickness of the electro-active structure.However, in most inventive embodiments, but not all, the multi-gridelectro-active structure utilizes a parallel structure, which creates auniform thickness of the electro-active structure.

To illustrate some of the possibilities, a convergent single vision lensoptic may be bonded to a convergent electro-active lens to create ahybrid lens assembly. Depending upon the electro-active lens materialused, the electrical voltage may either increase or reduce therefractive index. Adjusting the voltage up to reduce the index ofrefraction would change the final lens assembly power to give less pluspower, as shown in the first row of Table 1 for different combinationsof fixed and electro-active lens power. If adjusting the applied voltageup increases the index of refraction of the electro-active lens optic,the final hybrid lens assembly power changes as shown in Table 2 fordifferent combinations of fixed and electro-active lens power. It shouldbe noted that, in this embodiment of the invention, only a singleapplied voltage difference is required across the electro-active layer.

TABLE 1 S.V. or M.F. Electro- Index of Final Hybrid Lens Optic ActiveLens Voltage Refractive Lens Assembly (Distance Vision) Power ChangeChange Power + + − − Less Plus + − − − More Plus − + − − More Minus − −− − Less Minus

TABLE 2 S.V. or M.F. Electro- Index of Final Hybrid Lens Optic ActiveLens Voltage Refractive Lens Assembly (Distance Vision) Power ChangeChange Power + + − − More Plus + − − − Less Plus − + − − Less Minus − −− − More Minus

A possible manufacturing process for such a hybrid assembly follows. Inone example, the electro-active polymer gel layer can beinjection-molded, cast, stamped, machined, diamond turned, and/orpolished into a net lens optic shape. The thin metallic layer isdeposited onto both sides of the injection molded or cast polymer gellayer by, for example, sputtering or vacuum deposition. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the deposited thin metallic layer is placed onboth the lens optic and the other side of the injection-molded or castelectro-active material layer. A conductive layer may not be necessary,but if it is, it may also be vacuum deposited or sputtered onto themetallic layer.

Unlike conventional bifocal, multifocal or progressive lenses where thenear vision power segments need to be positioned differently fordifferent multifocal designs the invention can always be placed in onecommon location. For unlike different static power zones utilized by theconventional approach, where the eye moves and the head tilts to utilizesuch zone or zones, the present invention allows one to either lookstraight ahead or slightly up or down, and the entire electro-activepartial or full field adjusts to correct for the necessary near workingdistance. This reduces eye fatigue and head and eye movements.Furthermore, when one needs to look to the distance the adjustableelectro-active layer adjusts to the correct power needed to clearly seethe distant object. In most cases, this would cause the electro-activeadjustable near working distance field to become of plano power, thusconverting or adjusting the hybrid electro-active lens back to adistance vision correction lens or low power multifocal progressive lenscorrecting distance power. However, this is not always the case.

In some cases it may be advantageous to reduce the thickness of thesingle vision lens optic. For example, the central thickness of a pluslens, or the edge thickness of a minus lens, can be reduced by way ofsome appropriate distance power compensation in the electro-activeadjustable layer. This would apply to a full field or mostly full fieldhybrid electro-active spectacle lens or in all cases of a non-hybridelectro-active spectacle lens.

Once again, it should be pointed out that the adjustable electro-activelayer does not have to be located in a limited area but could cover theentire single vision or multifocal lens optic, whatever size area orshape is required of either one. The exact overall size, shape, andlocation of the electro-active layer is constrained only due toperformance and aesthetics.

It has also been discovered and is part of the invention that byutilizing the proper front convex and back concave curves of the singlevision or multifocal lens blank or optic it is possible to furtherreduce the complexity of electronics needed for the invention. By way ofproperly selecting the front convex base curves of the single vision ormultifocal lens blank or optic it is possible to minimize the number ofconnecting electrodes needed to activate the electro-active layer. Insome embodiments, only two electrodes are required as the entireelectro-active field area is adjusted by a set amount of electricalpower.

This occurs due to the change of refractive index of the electro-activematerial, which creates, depending upon the placement of theelectro-active layer, a different power front, back, or middleelectro-active layer. Thus the appropriate curvature relationship of thefront and back curves of each layer influences the needed poweradjustment of the electro-active hybrid or non-hybrid lens. In most, butnot all, hybrid designs especially those not utilizing a diffractive orFresnel component it is important that the electro-active layer does nothave its front & back curves parallel to that of the single vision ormultifocal semifinished blank or single vision or multifocal finishedlens blank it is attached to. One exception to this is a hybrid designutilizing a multi-grid structure.

It should be pointed out that one embodiment is of a hybridelectro-active lens utilizing less than a full field approach and aminimum of two electrodes. Other embodiments utilize a multi-gridelectro-active layer approach to create the electro-active layer inwhich case multiple electrodes and electrical circuitry will berequired. When utilizing a multi-grid electro-active structure, it hasbeen discovered that for the boundaries of the grids that have beenelectrically activated to be cosmetically acceptable (mostly invisible),it may be necessary to produce a refractive index differential betweenadjacent grids of zero to 0.02 units of refractive index difference.Depending upon cosmetic demands, the range of refractive indexdifferential could be from 0.01 to 0.05 units of refractive indexdifferential but in most inventive embodiments the difference islimited, by way of a controller to a maximum of 0.02 or 0.03 units ofrefractive index difference between adjacent areas.

It is also possible to utilize one or more electro-active layers havingdifferent electro-active structures such as a single-interconnectstructure and/or a multi-grid structure, which can react as needed onceenergized to create the desired additive end focusing power. For exampleonly, one could correct for distance power of a full field by way of theanterior (electro-active layer, distal with respect to the wearer'seyes) and utilize the posterior (i.e. proximal) electro-active layer tofocus for near vision range utilizing a partial field specific approachgenerated by the posterior layer. It should become readily apparent thatutilizing this multi electro-active layer approach will allow forincreased flexibility while keeping the layers extremely thin andreducing the complexity of each individual layer. Furthermore, thisapproach allows for sequencing the individual layers in as much as onecan energize them all at one time, to generate a simultaneous variableadditive focusing power effect. This variable focusing effect can beproduced in a time lapsed sequence, so as to correct for mid-rangefocusing needs and near vision range focusing needs as one looks fromfar to near and then create the reverse effect as one looks from near tofar.

The multi electro-active layer approach also allows for fasterelectro-active focusing power response time. This happens due to acombination of factors, one being the reduced electro-active materialthickness needed for each layer of multi electro-active layered lens.Also, because a multi electro-active layer lens allows for breaking upthe complexity of a master electro-active layer into two or more lesscomplex individual layers which are asked to do less individually thanthe master electro-active layer.

The following describes the materials and construction of theelectro-active lens, its electrical wiring circuitry, the electricalpower source, the electrical switching technique, software required forfocal length adjustment, and object distance ranging.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anelectro-active layer 1900. Attached to both sides of an electro-activematerial 1910 are metallic layers 1920. Attached to the opposite side ofeach metallic layer 1920 are conductive layers 1930.

The electro-active layer discussed above is a multilayer constructionconsisting of either a polymer gel or liquid crystal as theelectro-active material. However, in certain inventive cases both apolymer gel electro-active layer and a liquid crystal electro-activelayer are utilized within the same lens. For example: the liquid crystallayer may be utilized to create an electronic tint or sunglass effectand the polymer gel layer may be utilized to add or subtract power. Boththe polymer gel and liquid crystal has the property that its opticalindex of refraction can be changed by an applied electric voltage. Theelectro-active material is covered by two nearly transparent metalliclayers on either side, and a conductive layer is deposited on eachmetallic layer to provide good electrical connection to these layers.When a voltage is applied across the two conductive layers, an electricfield is created between them and through the electro-active material,changing the refractive index. In most cases, the liquid crystal and insome cases the gels are housed in a sealed encapsulating envelope of amaterial selected from silicones, polymethacrylate, styrene, proline,ceramic, glass, nylon, mylar and others.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens2000 having a multi-grid structure. Lens 2000 includes an electro-activematerial 2010 that can, in some embodiments, define a plurality ofpixels, each of which can be separated by a material having electricalinsulating properties. Thus, electro-active material 2010 can define anumber of adjacent zones, each zone containing one or more pixels.

Attached to one side of electro-active material 2010 is a metallic layer2020, which has a grid array of metallic electrodes 2030 separated by amaterial (not shown) having electrical insulating properties. Attachedto the opposite side (not shown) of electro-active material 2010 is asymmetrically identical metallic layer 2020. Thus, each electro-activepixel is matched to a pair of electrodes 2030 to define a grid elementpair.

Attached to metallic layer 2020 is a conductive layer 2040 having aplurality of interconnect vias 2050 each separated by a material (notshown) having electrical insulating properties. Each interconnect via2050 electrically couples one grid element pair to a power supply and/orcontroller. In an alternative embodiment, some and/or all ofinterconnect vias 2050 can connect more than one grid element pair to apower supply and/or controller.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, metallic layer 2020 iseliminated. In other embodiments, metallic layer 2020 is replaced by analignment layer.

In certain inventive embodiments the front (distal) surface,intermediate surface, and/or back surface can be made of a materialcomprising a conventional photochromatic component. This photochromaticcomponent may or may not be utilized with an electronic produced tintfeature associated as part of the electro-active lens. In the event thatit is utilized it would provide an additive tint in a complimentarymanner. It should be pointed out, however, in many inventive embodimentsthe photochromatic material is used solely with the electro-active lenswithout an electronic tint component. The photochromatic material can beincluded in an electro-active lens layer by way of the layer compositionor added later to the electro-active layer or added as part of an outerlayer either on the front or the back of the lens. Furthermore, theelectro-active lenses of the invention can be hard-coated front, back,or both can be coated with an anti-reflection coating as desired.

This construction is referred to as a sub-assembly and it can beelectrically controlled to create either a prismatic power, spherepower, astigmatic power correction, aspheric correction, or aberrationcorrection of the wearer. Furthermore, the subassembly can be controlledto mimic that of a Fresnell or diffractive surface. In one embodiment,if more than one type of correction is needed, two or moresub-assemblies can be juxtaposed, separated by an electricallyinsulating layer. The insulating layer may be comprised of siliconeoxide. In another embodiment, the same subassembly is utilized to createmultiple power corrections. Either of the two sub-assembly embodimentsjust discussed can be made of two different structures. This firststructural embodiment allows that each of the layers, the electro-activelayer, conductor, and metal, are contiguous, that is, continuous layersof material, thus forming a single-interconnect structure. The secondstructural embodiment (as shown in FIG. 20) utilizes metallic layers inthe form of a grid or array, with each sub-array area electricallyinsulated from its neighbors. In this embodiment showing a multi-gridelectro-active structure, the conductive layers are etched to provideseparate electrical contacts or electrodes to each sub-array or gridelement. In this manner, separate and distinct voltages may be appliedacross each grid element pair in the layer, creating regions ofdifferent index of refraction in the electro-active material layer. Thedetails of design, including layer thickness, index of refraction,voltages, candidate electro-active materials, layer structure, number oflayers or components, arrangement of layers or components, curvature ofeach layer and/or components is left for the optical designer to decide.

It should be noted that either the multi-grid electro-active structureor the single interconnect electro-active structures can be utilized aseither a partial lens field or a full lens field. However, when apartial field specific electro-active layer is utilized, in most cases,an electro-active material having a closely matching refractive index asthat of the partial field specific electro-active non-activated layer(the framing layer) is utilized laterally adjacent to and separated fromthe partial field specific electro-active region by an insulator. Thisis done to enhance the cosmetic nature of the electro-active lens by wayof keeping the appearance of the entire electro-active layer appearingas one, in the unactivated state. Also, it should be pointed out that incertain embodiments, the framing layer is of a non-electro-activematerial.

The polymer material can be of a wide variety of polymers where theelectro-active constituent is at least 30% by weight of the formulation.Such electro-active polymer materials are well known and commerciallyavailable. Examples of this material include liquid crystal polymerssuch as polyester, polyether, polyamide, (PCB) penta cyano biphenyl andothers. Polymer gels may also contain a thermoset matrix material toenhance the processability of the gel, improve its adhesion to theencapsulating conductive layers, and improve the optical clarity of thegel. By way of examples only this matrix may be a cross-linked acrylate,methacrylate, polyurethane, a vinyl polymer cross-linked with adifunctional or multifunctional acrylate, methacrylate or vinylderivative.

The thickness of the gel layer can be, for example, between about 3microns to about 100 microns, but may be as thick as one millimeter, oras another example, between about 4 microns to about 20 microns. The gellayer can have a modulus of, for example, about 100 pounds per inch toabout 800 pounds per inch, or as another example, 200 to 600 pounds perinch. The metallic layer can have a thickness of, for example, about10⁻⁴ microns to about 10⁻² microns, and as another example, from about0.8×10⁻³ microns to about 1.2×10⁻³ microns. The conductive layer canhave a thickness of, for example, on the order of 0.05 microns to about0.2 microns, and as another example, from about 0.8 microns to about0.12 microns, and as yet another example, about 0.1 microns.

The metallic layer is used to provide good contact between theconductive layer and the electro-active material. Those skilled in theart will readily recognize the appropriate metal materials that could beused. For example, one could use gold or silver.

In one embodiment, the refractive index of the electro-active materialmay vary, for example, between about 1.2 units and about 1.9 units, andas another example, between about 1.45 units and about 1.75 units, withthe change in index of refraction of at least 0.02 units per volt. Therate of change in the index with voltage, the actual index of refractionof the electro-active material, and its compatibility with the matrixmaterial will determine the percentage composition of the electro-activepolymer into the matrix, but should result in a change of index ofrefraction of the final composition of no less than 0.02 units per voltat a base voltage of about 2.5 volts but no greater than 25 volts.

As previously discussed with the inventive embodiment utilizing a hybriddesign, the sections of the electro-active layer assembly are attachedto a conventional lens optic with an appropriate adhesive or bondingtechnique which is transparent to visible light. This bonding assemblycan be by way of release paper or film having the electro-active layerpre-assembled and attached ready for bonding to the conventional lensoptic. It could be produced and applied to the awaiting lens opticsurface in-situ. Also, it could be applied pre-applied to the surface ofa lens wafer, which is then adhesively bonded to the awaiting lensoptic. It could be applied to a semi-finished lens blank which is latersurfaced or edged for the appropriate size, shape as well as theappropriate total power needs. Finally, it could be casted onto apreformed lens optic utilizing SurfaceCasting techniques. This createsthe electrically modifiable power of the invention. The electro-activelayer may occupy the entire lens area or only a portion of it.

The index of refraction of the electro-active layers can be correctlyaltered only for the area needed to focus. For example, in the hybridpartial field design previously discussed, the partial field area wouldbe activated and altered within this area. Therefore, in this embodimentthe index of refraction is altered in only a specific partial region ofthe lens. In another embodiment, that of a hybrid full field design, theindex of refraction is altered across the entire surface. Similarly, theindex of refraction is altered across the entire area in the non-hybriddesign. As discussed earlier, it has been discovered that in order tomaintain an acceptable optical cosmetic appearance the refractive indexdifferential between adjacent areas of an electro-active optic should belimited to a maximum of 0.02 units to 0.05 units of refractive indexdifferential, preferably 0.02 units to 0.03 units.

It is envisioned within the invention that in some cases the user wouldutilize a partial field and then want to switch the electro-active layerto a full field. In this case, the embodiment would be designedstructurally for a full field embodiment; however, the controller wouldbe programmed to allow for switching the power needs from a full fieldto a partial field and back again or vice versa.

In order to create the electric field necessary to stimulate theelectro-active lens, voltage is delivered to the optical assemblies.This is provided by bundles of small diameter wires, which are containedin the edges of the frames of the spectacles. The wires run from a powersource described below into the an electro-active eyewear controller,and/or one or more controller components, and to the frame edgesurrounding each spectacle lens, where state-of-the-art wire bondingtechniques used in semiconductor manufacturing link the wires to eachgrid element in the optical assembly. In the single wire interconnectstructured embodiment, meaning one wire per conductive layer, only onevoltage per spectacle lens is required and only two wires would benecessary for each lens. The voltage would be applied to one conductivelayer, while its partner on the opposing side of the gel layer is heldat ground potential. In another embodiment, an alternating current (AC)voltage is applied across opposing conductive layers. These twoconnections are easily made at or near the frame edge of each spectaclelens.

If a grid array of voltages is used, each grid sub-area in the array isaddressed with a distinct voltage, and conductors connect each wire leadin the frame to a grid element on the lens. An optically transparentconducting material such as indium oxide, tin oxide, or indium tin oxide(ITO) may be used to form the conductive layer of the electro-activeassembly which is used to connect the wires in the frame edges to eachgrid element in the electro-active lens. This method can be usedregardless of whether the electro-active area occupies the entire lensregion or only a portion of it.

To provide electric power to the optical assemblies, a source ofelectricity, such as a battery, is included in the design. The voltagesto create the electric field are small, hence, the temples of the framesare designed to allow for the insertion and extraction of miniature bulkbatteries which provide this power. The batteries are connected to thewire bundles through a multiplexing connection also contained in theframe temples. In another embodiment, conformal thin film batteries areattached to the surface of the frame temples with an adhesive thatallows them to be removed and replaced when their charge is dissipated.An alternative would be to provide an AC adapter with an attachment tothe frame-mounted batteries to allow in situ charging of either the bulkor conformal thin-film batteries when not in use.

An alternate energy source is also possible whereby a miniature fuelcell could be included in the spectacle frames to provide greater energystorage than batteries. The fuel cell could be recharged with a smallfuel canister that injects fuel into a reservoir in the spectacleframes.

It has been discovered that it is possible to minimize the electricalpower needs by way of utilizing an inventive hybrid multi-grid structureapproach which comprises in most cases but not all, a partial fieldspecific region. It should be pointed out, while one can utilize ahybrid partial field multi-grid structure, a hybrid full fieldmulti-grid structure can be utilized as well.

In another inventive approach, whereby non-conventional refractive errorsuch as aberrations are corrected, a tracking system is built into theeyewear, such as discussed above, and the proper enabling software andprogramming of the electro-active eyewear controller, and/or one or morecontroller components, housed in the electro-active eyewear is provided.This inventive embodiment both tracks one's line of sight, by way oftracking one's eyes, and applies the necessary electrical energy to thespecific area of the electro-active lens being looked through. In otherwords, as the eyes move a targeted electrically energized area wouldmove across the lens corresponding to one's line of sight directedthrough the electro-active lens. This would be manifested in severaldifferent lens designs. For example, the user could have a fixed powerlens, an electro-active lens, or a hybrid of both types to correct forconventional (sphere, cylinder, and prism) refractive error. In thisexample, the non-conventional refractive error would be corrected by wayof the electro-active layer being of a multi-grid structure whereby, asthe eye moves the corresponding activated region of the electro-activelens would move with the eye. In other words, the eye's line-of-sightcorresponding to the eye's movement, as it intersects the lens wouldmove across the lens in relationship to the eye's movements.

In the above inventive example it should be pointed out that themulti-grid electro-active structure, which is incorporated into or onthe hybrid electro-active lens can be of a partial field or a full fielddesign.

It should be pointed out utilizing this inventive embodiment one canminimize the electrical needs by way of only electrically energizing thelimited area being directly viewed through. Therefore, the smaller areabeing energized the less electrical power consumed for a givenprescription at any one time. The non directly viewed area would, inmost cases but not all, not be energized or activated and therefore,would correct for conventional refractive error that would get one to20/20 vision correcting for example, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, andpresbyopia. The targeted and tracked area in this inventive embodimentwould correct for as much non-conventional refractive error as possible,that being irregular astigmatism, aberrations, and ocular surface orlayer irregularities. In other inventive embodiments the targeted andtracked area could correct for also some conventional error, as well. Inseveral of the previous mentioned embodiments, this targeted and trackedarea can be automatically located with the assistance of the controller,and/or one or more controller components, by way of either a rangefinder located in the eyewear tracking the eye movements, with a eyetracking system located in the eyewear or both a tracking system and arange finder system.

Although only a partial electro-active region is utilized in certaindesigns, the entire surface is covered with the electro-active materialto avoid a circular line visible to the user in the lens in thenonactivated state. In some inventive embodiments, a transparentinsulator is utilized to keep the electrical activation limited to thecentral area being activated and the unactivated peripheralelectro-active material is utilized to keep the edge of the activeregion invisible.

In another embodiment, thin film solar cell arrays can be attached tothe surface of the frames, and voltage is supplied to the wires and theoptical grid by photoelectric effect using sunlight or ambient roomlighting. In one inventive embodiment, solar arrays are used for primarypower, with the miniature batteries discussed earlier included as backup power. When electrical power is not needed the batteries can becharged from the solar cells during these times in this embodiment. Analternative allows for an AC adapter and attachment to batteries withthis design.

In order to provide a variable focal length to the user, theelectro-active lenses are switchable. At least two switch positions areprovided, however, more are provided if needed. In the simplestembodiment, the electro-active lenses are either on or off. In the offposition, no current flows through the wires, no voltage is applied tothe grid assemblies, and only the fixed lens power is utilized. Thiswould be the case in a user requiring a far field distance correction,for example, assuming of course, the hybrid electro-active lens utilizeseither a single vision or multifocal lens blank or optic which correctsfor distance vision as part of its construction. To provide near visioncorrection for reading, the switch would be on, providing apredetermined voltage or array of voltages to the lenses, creating apositive add power in the electro-active assemblies. If a mid-fieldcorrection is desired, a third switch position can be included. Theswitch could be microprocessor controlled, or manually user controlled.In fact, there could be several additional positions included. Inanother embodiment, the switch is analog not digital, and providescontinuous variance of the focal length of the lens by adjusting a knobor lever much like a volume control on a radio.

It may be the case that no fixed lens power is part of the design, andall vision correction is accomplished via the electro-active lens. Inthis embodiment, a voltage or array of voltages is supplied to the lensat all times if both a distance and near vision correction is needed bythe user. If only a distance correction or reading accommodation isneeded by the user, the electro-active lens would be on when correctionis needed and off when no correction is needed. However, this is notalways the case. In certain embodiments depending upon the lens design,turning off or down the voltage will automatically increase the power ofthe distance and or near vision zones.

In one exemplary embodiment, the switch itself is located on thespectacle lens frames and is connected to a controller, for example, anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit, contained in the spectacleframes. This controller responds to different positions of the switch byregulating the voltages supplied from the power source. As such, thiscontroller makes up the multiplexer discussed above, which distributesvarious voltages to the connecting wires. The controller may also be ofan advanced design in the form of a thin film and be mounted like thebattery or solar cells conformably along the surface of the frames.

In one exemplary embodiment, this controller, and/or one or morecontroller components, is fabricated and/or programmed with knowledge ofthe user's vision correction requirements, and allows the user to easilyswitch between different arrays of pre-determined voltages tailored forhis or her individual vision requirements. This electro-active eyewearcontroller, and/or one or more controller components, is easilyremovable and/or programmable by the vision care specialist ortechnician and replaced and/or reprogrammed with a new “prescription”controller when the user's vision correction requirements change.

One aspect of the controller-based switch is that it can change thevoltage applied to an electro-active lens in less than a microsecond. Ifthe electro-active layer is manufactured from a fast-switching material,it is possible that the rapid change in focal length of the lenses maybe disruptive to the wearer's vision. A gentler transition from onefocal length to another may be desirable. As an additional feature ofthis invention, a “lag time” can be programmed into the controller thatwould slow the transition. Conversely, a “lead time” could be programmedinto the controller that would speed the transition. Similarly, thetransition could be anticipated by a predictive algorithm.

In any event, the time constant of the transition can be set so that itis proportional and/or responsive to the refractive change needed toaccommodate the wearer's vision. For example, small changes in focusingpower could be switched rapidly; while a large change in focusing power,such as a wearer quickly moving his gaze from a distant object to readprinted material, could be set to occur over a longer time period, say10–100 milliseconds. This time constant could be adjustable, accordingto the comfort of the wearer.

In any event, it is not necessary for the switch to be on the spectaclesthemselves. In another exemplary embodiment, the switch is in a separatemodule, possibly in a pocket in the user's clothing, and is activatedmanually. This switch could be connected to the spectacles with a thinwire or optical fiber. Another version of the switch contains a smallmicrowave or radio-frequency short-range transmitter which sends asignal regarding switch position to a tiny receiver antenna mountedconformably on the spectacle frames. In both of these switchconfigurations, the user has direct but discreet control over the focallength variation of his or her spectacles.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the switch is automaticallycontrolled by a range finding device located, for example, in the frame,on the frame, in the lens, and/or on the lens of the spectacles, andpointing forward toward the object to be perceived.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another inventive embodiment ofelectro-active eyewear 2100. In this illustrative example, frames 2110contain electro-active lenses 2120 that are connected by connectingwires 2130 to controller 2140 (integrated circuit) and power source2150. A range finder transmitter 2160 is attached to an electro-activelens 2120 and a range finder receiver 2170 is attached to the otherelectro-active lens 2120. In various alternative embodiments,transmitter 2160 and/or receiver 2170 can be attached to anyelectro-active lens 2120, attached to frame 2110, embedded in lens 2120,and/or embedded in frame 2110. Further, range finder transmitter 2160and/or receiver 2170 can be controlled by controller 2140 and/or aseparate controller (not shown). Similarly, signals received by receiver2170 can be processed by controller 2140 and/or a separate controller(not shown).

In any event, this range finder is an active seeker and can utilizevarious sources such as: lasers, light emitting diodes, radio-frequencywaves, microwaves, or ultrasonic impulses to locate the object anddetermine its distance. In one embodiment, a vertical cavitysurface-emitting laser (VCSEL) is used as the light transmitter. Thesmall size and flat profile of these devices make them attractive forthis application. In another embodiment, an organic light emittingdiode, or OLED, is used as the light source for the rangefinder. Theadvantage of this device is that OLEDs can often be fabricated in a waythat they are mostly transparent. Thus, an OLED might be a preferablerangefinder design if cosmetics is a concern, since it could beincorporated into the lens or frames without being noticeable.

An appropriate sensor to receive the reflected signal off the object isplaced in one or more positions on the front of the lens frames andconnected to a tiny controller to compute the range. This range is sentvia a wire or optical fiber to the switching controller located in thelens frames or a wireless remote carried on oneself and analyzed todetermine the correct switch setting for that object distance. In somecases, the ranging controller and switching controller may be integratedtogether.

In another exemplary embodiment, the switch can be controlled by a smallbut rapid movement of the user's head. This would be accomplished byincluding a tiny micro-gyroscope or micro-accelerometer in the temple onthe lens frames. A small, rapid shake or twist of the head would triggerthe micro-gyro or micro-accelerometer and cause the switch to rotatethrough its allowed position settings, changing the focus of theelectro-active lens to the desired correction.

Yet another exemplary embodiment uses a combination of microgyroscopewith a manual switch. In this embodiment, the microgyroscope is utilizedfor mostly reading and visual functions below the 180 so as to react toone's head tilt. Thus, when one's head tilts, the microgyroscope sends asignal to the controller indicating the degree of head tilt, which isthen converted into increased focusing power, depending on the severityof the tilt. The manual switch, which can be remote, is used foroverriding the microgyroscope for certain visual functions at or abovethe 180, such as working on a computer.

In still another exemplary embodiment, a combination of a rangefinderand a microgyroscope is utilized. The microgyroscope is utilized fornear vision, and other vision functions below the 180, and therangefinder is used for viewing distances which are above the 180 andare of a viewing distance of, for example, four feet or less.

As an alternative to the manual switch or range finder design to adjustthe focusing power of the electro-active assembly, another exemplaryembodiment utilizes an eye-tracker to measure inter-pupillary distance.As the eyes focus on distant or near objects, this distance changes asthe pupils converge or diverge. At least two light-emitting diodes andat least two adjacent photo-sensors to detect reflected light from thediodes off the eye are placed on the inside frame near the nose bridge.This system can sense the position of the edge of the pupil of each eyeand convert the position to inter-pupillary distance to calculate thedistance of the object from the user's eye plane. In certain embodimentsthree or even four light emitting diodes and photo sensors are used totrack eye movements.

In addition to vision correction, the electro-active layer can also beused to give a spectacle lens an electro-chromic tint. By applying anappropriate voltage to an appropriate gel polymer or liquid crystallayer, a tint or sunglass effect can be imparted to the lens, whichalternates the light transmission somewhat through the lens. Thisreduced light intensity gives a “sunglass” effect to the lens for thecomfort of the user in bright, outdoor environment. Liquid crystalcompositions and gel polymers with high polarizability in response to anapplied electric field are most attractive for this application.

In some inventive embodiments, this invention may be used in locationswhere temperature variations may be sizeable enough to affect the indexof refraction of the electro-active layer. Then, a correction factor toall of the supplied voltages to the grid assemblies would have to beapplied to compensate for this effect. A miniature thermistor,thermocouple, or other temperature sensor mounted in or on the lensand/or frame and connected to the power source senses changes intemperature. The controller converts these readings into voltage changesneeded to compensate for the change in refractive index of theelectro-active material.

However, in certain embodiments electronic circuitry is actually builtinto or on the lens surface for the purpose of increasing thetemperature of the electro-active layer or layers. This is done tofurther reduce the refractive index of the electro-active layers thusmaximizing lens power changes. Increased temperature can be utilizedeither with or without voltage increases thus giving additionalflexibility in being able to control and change the lens power by way ofrefractive index changes. When temperature is utilized it is desirableto be able to measure, get feed back and control the temperature whichhas been deliberately applied.

In the case of either a partial or full field grid array of individuallyaddressed electro-active regions, many conductors may be necessary tomultiplex specific voltages from the controller to each grid element.For ease of engineering these interconnects, the invention locates thecontroller in the front section of the spectacle frames, for example, inthe nose bridge area. Thus, the power source, which is located in thetemples, will be connected to the controller by only two conductorsthrough the temple-front frame hinge. The conductors linking thecontroller to the lenses can be totally contained within the frontsection of the frame.

In some embodiments of the invention, the spectacles may have one orboth spectacle frame temples, parts of which are easily removable. Eachtemple will consist of two parts: a short one which remains connected tothe hinge and front frame section and a longer one which plugs into thispiece. The unpluggable part of the temples each contain an electricalpower source (battery, fuel cell, etc.) and can be simply removed andreconnected to the fixed portion of the temples. These removable templesare rechargeable, for example, by placing in a portable A.C. chargingunit which charges by direct current flow, by magnetic induction, or byany other common recharging method. In this manner, fully chargedreplacement temples may be connected to the spectacles to providecontinuous, long-term activation of the lenses and ranging system. Infact, several replacement temples may be carried by the user in pocketor purse for this purpose.

In many cases, the wearer will require spherical correction fordistance, near, and/or intermediate vision. This allows a variation ofthe fully interconnected grid array lens, which takes advantage of thespherical symmetry of the required corrective optic. In this case aspecial geometrically shaped grid consisting of concentric rings ofelectro-active regions may comprise either the partial region or fullfield lens. The rings may be circular or non circular such as, forexample, elliptical. This configuration serves to reduce substantiallythe number of required electro-active regions that must be separatelyaddressed by conductor connections with different voltages, greatlysimplifying the interconnect circuitry. This design allows for thecorrection of astigmatism by employing a hybrid lens design. In thiscase, the conventional optic may provide cylindrical and/or astigmaticcorrection, and the concentric ring electro-active layer may provide thespherical distance and/or near vision correction.

This concentric ring, or toroidal zone, embodiment allows for greatflexibility in adapting the electro-active focusing to the wearer'sneeds. Because of the circular zone symmetry, many more thinner zonescan be fabricated without increasing the wiring and interconnectcomplexity. For example, an electro-active lens made from an array of4000 square pixels will require wiring to address all 4000 zones; a needto cover a circular partial region area of 35 millimeters diameter willyield a pixel pitch of about 0.5 millimeters. On the other hand, anadaptive optic made from a pattern of concentric rings of the same 0.5millimeter pitch (or ring thickness) will require only 35 toroidalzones, greatly reducing the wiring complexity. Conversely, the pixelpitch (and resolution) can be decreased to only 0.1 millimeters and onlyincrease the number of zones (and interconnects) to 175. The greaterresolution of the zones may translate into greater comfort for thewearer, since the radial change in refractive index from zone to zone issmoother and more gradual. Of course, this design restricts one to onlyvision corrections which are spherical in nature.

It has been further discovered that the concentric ring design cantailor the thickness of the toroidal rings so as to place the greatestresolution at the radius where it is needed. For example, if the designcalls for phase-wrapping, i.e., taking advantage of the periodicity oflight waves to achieve greater focusing power with materials of limitedrefractive index variation, one can design an array with narrower ringsat the periphery and wider rings at the center of the circular partialregion of the electro-active area. This judicious use of each toroidalpixel yields the greatest focusing power obtainable for the number ofzones utilized while minimizing the aliasing effect present in lowresolution systems that employ phase-wrapping.

In another embodiment of this invention, it may be desired to smooth thesharp transition from the far-field focus region to the near visionfocus region in hybrid lenses employing a partial electro-active area.This occurs, of course, at the circular boundary of the electro-activeregion. In order to accomplish this, the invention would be programmedto have regions of less power for near vision in the periphery of theelectro-active region. For example, consider a hybrid concentric ringdesign with a 35 mm diameter electro-active region, where the fixedfocal length lens provides a distance correction, and the electro-activeregion provides a +2.50 add power presbyopic correction. Instead ofmaintaining this power all the way out to the periphery of theelectro-active region, several toroidal regions or “bands”, eachcontaining several addressable electro-active concentric ring zones,would be programmed to have decreasing power at larger diameters. Forexample, during activation one embodiment might have a central 26 mmdiameter circle of +2.50 add power, with a toroidal band extending from26 to 29 mm diameter with +2.00 add power, another toroidal bandextending from 29 to 32 mm diameter with +1.5 add power, surrounded by atoroidal band extending from 32 to 35 mm diameter with +1.0 add power.This design may be useful in providing some users with a more pleasantwearing experience.

When utilizing an ophthalmic spectacle lens one generally utilizes thetop approximately one-half of the lens for far distance viewing.Approximately 2 to 3 mm above the mid-line and 6 to 7 mm below themid-line for intermediate distance viewing and from 7–10 mm below themid-line for near distance viewing.

Aberrations created in the eye appear different for distances from theeye and need to be corrected differently. An object's distance that isbeing viewed is directly related to the specific aberration correctionneeded. Therefore, an aberration created from the eye's optical systemwill need approximately the same correction for all far distances,approximately the same correction for all intermediate distances, andapproximately the same correction for all near point distances.Therefore, the invention allows for the electro-active adjustment of thelens to correct certain aberrations of the eye, in three or foursections of the lens (distance section, intermediate section and nearsection), as opposed to trying to adjust the electro-active lensgrid-by-grid as the eye and the eye's line of sight moves across thelens.

FIG. 22 is a front view of an embodiment of an electro-active lens 2200.Within lens 2200 are defined various regions proving differentrefractive corrections. Below mid-line B—B, several near distancecorrective regions 2210 and 2220 each having a different correctivepower, are surrounded by a single intermediate distance correctiveregion 2230. Although only two near distance corrective regions 2210 and2220 are shown, any number of near distance corrective regions can beprovided. Similarly, any number of intermediate distance correctiveregions can be provided. Above mid-line B—B, a far distance correctiveregion 2240 are provided. Regions 2210, 2220, and 2230 can be activatedin a programmed sequence manner, to save power for example, or in astatic on-off manner similar to a conventional tri-focal. When lookingfrom far to near, or from near to far, lens 2200 can help the wearer'seye focus, by smoothing the transition between the various focal lengthsof the various regions. Thereby, the phenomenon of “image jump” isrelieved or greatly reduced. This improvement is also provided in theembodiments shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, below.

FIG. 23 is a front view of an embodiment of another electro-active lens2300. Within lens 2300 are defined various regions proving differentrefractive corrections. Below mid-line C—C, a single near distancecorrective region 2310 is surrounded by a single intermediate distancecorrective region 2320. Above mid-line C—C, is located a single fardistance corrective region 2330.

FIG. 24 is a front view of an embodiment of an embodiment of anotherelectro-active lens 2400. Within lens 2400 are defined various regionsproviding different refractive corrections. A single near distancecorrective region 2410 is surrounded by a single intermediate distancecorrective region 2420, which is surrounded by a single far distancecorrective region 2430.

FIG. 25 is a side view of an embodiment of another electro-active lens2500. Lens 2500 includes a conventional lens optic 2510 to which severalfull field electro-active regions 2520, 2530, 2540, and 2550 areattached, each separated from the adjacent regions by insulating layers2525, 2535, and 2545.

FIG. 26 is a side view of an embodiment of another electro-active lens2600. Lens 2600 includes a conventional lens optic 2610 to which severalpartial field electro-active regions 2620, 2630, 2640, and 2650 areattached, each separated from the adjacent regions by insulating layers2625, 2635, and 2645. Framing region 2660 surrounds electro-activeregions 2620, 2630, 2640, and 2650.

Returning to the discussion of diffractive electro-active lenses, anelectro-active lens for correcting refractive error can be fabricatedusing an electro-active layer adjacent to a glass, polymer, or plasticsubstrate lens which is imprinted or etched with a diffractive pattern.The surface of the substrate lens which has the diffractive imprint isdirectly in contact with the electro-active material. Thus, one surfaceof the electro-active layer is also a diffractive pattern which is themirror image of that on the lens substrate surface.

The assembly acts as a hybrid lens, such that the substrate lens alwaysprovides a fixed corrective power, typically for distance correction.The index of refraction of the electro-active layer in its unactivatedstate is nearly identical to that of the substrate lens; this differenceshould be 0.05 index units or less. Thus, when the electro-active lensis unactivated, the substrate lens and electro-active layer have thesame index, and the diffractive pattern is powerless, and provides nocorrection (0.00 diopter). In this state, the power of the substratelens is the only corrective power.

When the electro-active layer is activated, its index changes, and therefractive power of the diffraction pattern becomes additive to thesubstrate lens. For example, if the substrate lens has a power of −3.50diopter, and the electro-active diffractive layer has a power whenactivated of +2.00 diopter, the total power of the electro-active lensassembly is −1.50 diopter. In this way, the electro-active lens allowsfor near vision or reading. In other embodiments, the electro-activelayer in the activated state may be index matched to the lens optic.

Electro-active layers that use liquid crystals are birefringent. Thatis, they display two different focal lengths in their unactivated statewhen exposed to unpolarized light. This birefringence gives rise todouble or fuzzy images on the retina. There are two approaches tosolving this problem. The first requires at least two electro-activelayers to be used. One is fabricated with the electro-active moleculesaligned longitudinally in the layer, while the other is fabricated withlatitudinally oriented molecules in its layer; thus, the molecularalignment in the two layers is orthogonal to each other. In this manner,both polarizations of light are focused equally by both of the layers,and all light is focused at the same focal length.

This can be accomplished by simply stacking the two orthogonally-alignedelectro-active layers or by an alternative design in which the centerlayer of the lens is a double-sided plate, i.e., with identicaldiffraction patterns etched on both sides. Electro-active material isthen placed in a layer on both sides of the center plate, assuring thattheir alignments are orthogonal. Then a cover superstrate is placed overeach electro-active layer to contain it. This provides a simpler designthan superimposing two distinct electro-active/diffractive layers on topof each other.

A different alternative requires one to add a cholesteric liquid crystalto the electro-active material to give it a large chiral component. Ithas been found that a certain level of chiral concentration eliminatesthe in-plane polarization sensitivity, and obviates the need for twoelectro-active layers of purely nematic liquid crystal as a component inthe electro-active material.

Turning now to the materials used for the electro-active layer, examplesof material classes and specific electro-active materials that can beused for the electro-active layer and lens of the present invention arelisted below. Other than the liquid crystal materials listed below inclass I, we generally refer to each of these classes of materials aspolymer gels.

I) Liquid Crystals

This class includes any liquid crystal film that forms nematic, smectic,or cholesteric phases that possess a long-range orientational order thatcan be controlled with an electric field. Examples of nematic liquidcrystals are: pentyl-cyano-biphenyl (5CB), (n-octyloxy)-4-cyanobiphenyl(80CB). Other examples of liquid crystals are the n=3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,of the compound 4-cyano-4-n-alkylbiphenyls, 4-n-pentyloxy-biphenyl,4-cyano-4″-n-alkyl-p-terphenyls, and commercial mixtures such as E7,E36, E46, and the ZLI-series made by BDH (British Drug House)-Merck.

II) Electro-optic Polymers

This class includes any transparent optical polymeric material such asthose disclosed in “Physical Properties of Polymers Handbook” by J. E.Mark, American Institute of Physics, Woodburry, N.Y., 1996, containingmolecules having unsymmetrical polarized conjugated—electrons between adonor and an acceptor group (referred to as a chromophore) such as thosedisclosed in “Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials” by Ch. Bosshard etal., Gordon and Breach Publishers, Amsterdam, 1995. Examples of polymersare as follows: polystyrene, polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate,polyvinylcarbazole, polyimide, polysilane. Examples of chromophores are:paranitroaniline (PNA), disperse red 1 (DR 1),3-methyl-4-methoxy-4′-nitrostilbene, diethylaminonitrostilbene (DANS),diethyl-thio-barbituric acid.

Electro-optic polymers can be produced by: a) following a guest/hostapproach, b) by covalent incorporation of the chromophore into thepolymer (pendant and main-chain), and/or c) by lattice hardeningapproaches such as cross-linking.

III) Polymer Liquid Crystals

This class includes polymer liquid crystals (PLCs), which are alsosometimes referred to as liquid crystalline polymers, low molecular massliquid crystals, self-reinforcing polymers, in situ-composites, and/ormolecular composites. PLCs are copolymers that contain simultaneouslyrelatively rigid and flexible sequences such as those disclosed in“Liquid Crystalline Polymers: From Structures to Applications” by W.Brostow, edited by A. A. Collyer, Elsevier, New-York-London, 1992,Chapter 1. Examples of PLCs are: polymethacrylate comprising4-cyanophenyl benzoate side group and other similar compounds.

IV) Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

This class includes polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs), whichconsist of dispersions of liquid crystal droplets in a polymer matrix.These materials can be made in several ways: (i) by nematic curvilinearaligned phases (NCAP), by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS),solvent-induced phase separation (SIPS), and polymerization-inducedphase separation (PIPS). Examples of PDLCs are: mixtures of liquidcrystal E7 (BDH-Merck) and NOA65 (Norland products, Inc. NJ); mixturesof E44 (BDH-Merck) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA); mixtures of E49(BDH-Merck) and PMMA; mixture of the monomer dipentaerythrol hydroxypenta acrylate, liquid crystal E7, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-phenylglycine,and the dye Rose Bengal.

V) Polymer Stabilized Liquid Crystals

This class includes polymer-stabilized liquid crystals (PSLCs), whichare materials that consist of a liquid crystal in a polymer network inwhich the polymer constitutes less than 10% by weight of the liquidcrystal. A photopolymerizable monomer is mixed together with a liquidcrystal and an UV polymerization initiator. After the liquid crystal isaligned, the polymerization of the monomer is initiated typically by UVexposure and the resulting polymer creates a network that stabilizes theliquid crystal. For examples of PSLCs, see, for instance: C. M. Hudsonet al. Optical Studies of Anisotropic Networks in Polymer-StabilizedLiquid Crystals, Journal of the Society for Information Display, vol.5/3, 1–5, (1997), G. P. Wiederrecht et al, Photorefractivity inPolymer-Stabilized Nematic Liquid Crystals, J. of Am. Chem. Soc., 120,3231–3236 (1998).

VI) Self-Assembled Nonlinear Supramolecular Structures

This class includes electro-optic asymmetric organic films, which can befabricated using the following approaches: Langmuir-Blodgett films,alternating polyelectrolyte deposition (polyanion/polycation) fromaqueous solutions, molecular beam epitaxy methods, sequential synthesisby covalent coupling reactions (for example: organotrichlorosilane-basedself-assembled multilayer deposition). These techniques usually lead tothin films having a thickness of less than about 1_m.

Still other advantages and embodiments of the invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the above-reciteddetailed description. Accordingly, the drawings, descriptions, andexamples provided herein are to be regarded as exemplary andillustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. For example,electro-active eyewear can be provided that has one hybrid lens and onenon-hybrid lens. Similarly, electro-active eyewear can be provided thathas one full field electro-active lens and one partial fieldelectro-active lens. Likewise, electro-active eyewear can be providedthat has one lens that employs a single interconnect electro-activestructure and another that employs a multi-grid electro-activestructure.

1. An electro-active lens comprising: an electro-active material of asubstantially constant thickness; at least one alignment layer to alignmolecules of the electro-active material; a plurality of conductiveelectrodes arranged in a grid or array comprising a plurality ofelements, wherein each grid or array element is an electrode, whereineach electrode is isolated from other electrodes by an insulatingmaterial; and wherein the electro-active lens is capable of being edgedwithout destroying or removing material or components needed for theelectro-active material to function properly.
 2. The electro-active lensof claim 1, wherein the insulating material is an oxide.
 3. Theelectro-active lens of claim 2, wherein the insulating material issilicon oxide.
 4. The electro-active lens of claim 1, wherein theinsulating material is substantially transparent.
 5. The electro-activelens of claim 1, wherein the grids or arrays are substantially circularand concentric with respect to one another.
 6. The electro-active lensof claim 1, wherein the electro-active material contalns a liquidcrystal.
 7. An electro-active lens comprising: at least one layer ofelectro-active material having substantially constant thickness; atleast one alignment layer to align molecules of the electro-activematerial; at least one grid or array of conductive electrodes inelectrical contact with the at least one layer of electro-activematerial, wherein each grid or array element is an electrode and whereinthe optical power of the electro-active lens is varied by altering anapplied voltage from a power source to individual electrodes of the gridor array, each electrode is isolated from at least one other electrodeby an insulating material; and wherein the electro-active lens iscapable of being edged without destroying or removing material orcomponents needed for the electro-active material to function properly.8. The electro-active lens of claim 7 wherein a change in refractiveindex of the electro-active material is at least 0.02 units per volt. 9.An ophthalmic electro-active lens comprising: an electro-active materialof a substantially constant thickness; at least one alignment layer toalign molecules of the electro-active material; and a plurality ofconductive electrodes arranged in a grid or array comprising a pluralityof elements, wherein each grid or array element is an electrode, whereineach electrode is isolated from other electrodes by an insulatingmaterial, wherein the electro-active material is at least partiallydisposed above a pupil of a wearer's eye when the ophthalmicelectro-active lens is in an as-worn position, and wherein theophthalmic electro-active lens is capable of being edged withoutdestroying or removing material or components needed for theelectro-active material to function properly.
 10. The electro-activelens of claim 9, wherein the insulating material is an oxide.
 11. Theelectro-active lens of claim 10, wherein the insulating material issilicon oxide.
 12. The electro-active lens of claim 9, wherein theinsulating material is substantially transparent.
 13. The electro-activelens of claim 9, wherein the grids or arrays are substantially circularand concentric with respect to one another.
 14. The electro-active lensof claim 9, wherein the electro-active material contains a liquidcrystal.
 15. An ophthalmic electro-active lens comprising: at least onelayer of electro-active material having substantially constantthickness; at least one alignment layer to align molecules of theelectro-active material; at least one grid or array of conductiveelectrodes in electrical contact with the at least one layer ofelectro-active material, wherein each grid or array element is anelectrode and wherein the optical power of the electro-active lens isvaried by altering an applied voltage from a power source to individualelectrodes of the grid or array, the electrodes isolated from another byan insulating material, wherein the electro-active material is at leastpartially disposed above a pupil of a wearer's eye when the ophthalmicelectro-active lens is in an as-worn position, and wherein theophthalmic electro-active lens is capable of being edged withoutdestroying or removing material or components needed for theelectro-active material to function properly.
 16. The electro-activelens of claim 15 wherein a change in refractive index of theelectro-active material is at least 0.02 units per volt.